Burning Bright (The Extraordinaries #1)

"Burning Bright" is an incredible historical, fantasy adventure with a light touch of romance. Elinor is a young woman in the early nineteenth century who develops a talent at a late age (21). This story exists in the past we know but with one (big) change- some people are born with magical talents such as Seers, who can see limited other places/peoples, Bounders, who can travel across distances in an instant, Movers, who can move people and objects (and sometimes fly), etc. People with extensive powers/abilities in their arena are known as Extraordinary. Elinor is a rare type called a Extraordinary Scorcher, who can control fire. Her father wishes to use her to raise his status and monetary expense (the value of women we know in the nineteenth century), willing to marry her to a man who forced a kiss on her with a predatory manner.

Forced to choose between marrying a man her father chooses or being under her father's cruel thumb, Elinor creates her own third option. Extraordinaries are invited to join the military, regardless of gender, as they can be quite helpful during combat. England is fighting a war against piracy in the Caribbean. Elinor volunteers for the navy, to help fight enemy vessels with her fire. She serves under Captain Ramsey, an absolute gentleman and incredible friend (and yes, love interest). Elinor grows during the book into an even stronger version of herself, gaining confidence and self-sufficiency.

If you love pirates and naval adventures, this is definitely the book for you! If you love strong women who make their own way, this is also an excellent choice. If you love a slow but strong romance, this is again your winner (it's very, very clean though). I think this is a wonderful book for all ages! It was an enthralling read which made it difficult-to-impossible to put down. I loved every second of it! The ending toyed with my emotions, but all is well that ends well (and it certainly did- I've got a good book endorphin rush!). This is definitely one of my newest favorites- strong female lead who saves the day, finds herself, and saves the day (and also... pirates!).

Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book easily made my top 5 favorite reads for 2016. The writing, the characterization, and the world-building were all exquisite. From the moment I started the book, I couldn't put it down. I read it during my breaks at work, while in line at the post office, and pretty much everywhere else I went. The only bad thing about this book is the fact that, since it was just released, I can't immediately pick up the sequel and continue reading about Elinor's adventures.

When the book opens, Elinor has just discovered her powers. Through this momentous event, the author explores shifts in family dynamics and Elinor's suitability as a bride. Setting this novel in Regency England allowed the author to explore the role of women in society during that time period, which she did in a masterful way. The book is peppered with references to Elinor's respectability and how public perception mattered more than truth. Her life was dominated by her father until she found the determination to escape and choose a path different those those he offered her.

Elinor herself is a marvelous character. She is strong-willed, independent, and gutsy (not to mention incredibly powerful). We see her on a journey of discovery, both of herself and of her powers. What I liked the most about this book is that Elinor experiences consequences for her actions. She goes to war against the pirates, does gruesome things, and has to find a way to live with her choices. At one point, she must struggle to survive on her own and she uses her intelligence and grit to make it through.

The romance in this book was exquisitely done, as was the dialogue. As a matter of fact, both were almost Austen-esque in their execution. The banter was witty and highly engaging and the softer, quieter moments were done just as skillfully. Elinor's immersion into the crew was handled incredibly well and the reader came to care just as much for the secondary characters as she did. Regarding her romantic love interest, the slow burn of their romance was handled perfectly. Before there was any romantic interest, they developed a very solid friendship (Although I will admit to rooting for the pair of them the entire novel). Additionally, the concept of a romance is not introduced (except for a few sleazy men who end up burned), until Elinor has decided who she will be and the path she will take.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable, engaging read. I already know that I will be buying a copy of this book and pre-ordering the entire rest of the series. I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys a strong female character, adventure, and magic.

An adventure with pirates of the Caribbean and a group of paranormals. Some romance towards the end. Entertaining.

When I first picked up this book, I kept staring at the author's name. I recognized it, but I couldn't remember where I had seen it before. When I looked it up after finishing this book, it made sense that she would be the author of a great book I read a whole ago, Servant of the Crown. This book is just as good, if not better, and it truly shows Melissa McShane's ability to weave together a world similar and yet entirely unlike our own. I greatly enjoyed losing myself in the alternate universe she created in Burning Bright, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Elinor Pembroke has grown up feeling completely normal, although in her world, this means she is boring and unlikely to ever make a good match. When she wakes up one morning with her bedroom on fire, she is able to extinguish it with a thought, and her whole life is turned upside down. Elinor is an Extraordinary Scorcher, the only one known in England, and her father sees this as a great opportunity to marry her off to a lord. Elinor balks at the idea, and when her father threatens her, she flees to join the Navy. There she is assigned to Captain Miles Ramsay's ship, and she soon learns the true extent of her abilities. After having lived for 21 years as a person of little consequence, now she sees her own importance and builds up the courage to live as she sees fit. Battling pirates and building friendships with her fellow seamen, she goes on a journey that will take her further than she has ever gone before.

The world the author built is amazing, so I want to go over that briefly. In this world, there are many people with talents - Bounders (ability to teleport), Discerners (ability to feel others' emotions), Seers (ability to see into the present and future), Movers (ability to move things with a thought), Healers (ability to heal - obviously), and Scorchers (ability to create fire). I may be missing a few, but those were the ones that stood out to me. There are some talented people who are considered Extraordinary, and this makes their talent even more thrilling. For example, an Extraordinary Mover can fly, and an Extraordinary Scorcher can control and extinguish fire, not just create it. Extraordinaries are extremely rare, and so they are valuable not just for marriage but also in times of war. That is what allowed Elinor to join the Navy, despite the fact that she is a woman.

The relationship between Elinor and Miles developed slowly. And I mean s-l-o-w-l-y. In the end, though, it made everything that much more heart-wrenching and sweet. Throughout the story, Elinor works to build up both her talent and her courage, and Miles is subtly helping her become the woman she is meant to be. You will root for Elinor and fall for Miles, and their love is one you'll wish you had if you don't have it already. Their characters are relatable and unique, and this helps the reader become attached to them and feel their emotions as they read. When I click emotionally with the characters, I know it's a good book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, romance, and historical themes. It was such an enjoyable read, and the next book is sure to be just as well done.

4 stars

I liked this book, I thought it was cool all the powers and stuff were normal and there was no "magic" whispered about it. I could have done without all the misogyny, I get that its set in a time period where it was full of it and that's just how it was but if you can have teleporting and mind messages and fire powers etc but its fantasy so there could have been less. But I also understand it being there it just isn't my favourite thing to read, I tend to get annoyed quickly with it and although our main character eventually stands up for her self which I liked.

Overall I think its a pretty good read! and would definitely recommend.

Overall this was such a magical and intelligent book that I am glad I had the opportunity to read. With smart language, complex and well-rounded characters and a plot that will keep you flipping pages until the very end, this book is definitely an adventure worth your time!

I loved reading this paranormal, naval action-adventure story with some romance thrown in, set in 1812 which also has pirates. This was the first book I have read by this author, so I had no expectations going in, but it worked out really well.

In the first chapters we meet 21-year old Elinor who has just discovered that she has an extraordinary talent: being able to set and extinguish fires. This talent suddenly makes her a very promising marriage prospect, something her father is willing to make the most of. At that point the story feels like a mix between a paranormal (people with extra powers) and a traditional regency romance with ball gowns, carriages and the marriage mart. We also very briefly meet the hero of the story, Captain Ramsey, but no love is lost between them at that point.

The story really takes off when Elinor – the main focus of this story which is told from her, third person, POV – decides to take charge of her own life. She leaves her parents and joins the Royal Navy, since the navy in this world, heavily relies on people with all sorts of powers. Elinor is assigned to join Captain Ramsey on his ship which sails to the Caribbean to fight a group of pirates. The story at this point turns into an adventure story during which Elinor has to face a lot of different troubles and learns, through triumphs and mistakes (some less and some more stupid) how to deal with her talent and to be an adult. Through this all Captain Ramsey (sometimes part of the story, sometimes somewhere else) is as steady as a rock, sweet when he could, tough when he needed to be, and in the end he proved himself a true hero when he paid the price for Elinor’s last overconfident choice. How I wished his POV would have been part of this story.

I wouldn’t say this story is a romance. The focus is too much on the heroine for that. But it is a great adventure. The description (just the right amount) about the ship, the Caribbean, life on board is great and the world, regency mixed with talents, very interesting. So if you’re looking for a steamy, sexy romance. This book isn’t for you. But if you like to join a great adventure; if you like books set on ships; if you like regency stories with a twist; if you like a slow (very slow) building romance based on mutual respect instead of insta-lust (very clean though) and if you like books with pirates (who in this story are the bad guys): this book might just what you need.

Will I read more from this author: YES!
Will I recommend this book to fellow readers: also YES.

I'm a bit of a serial reader; after finishing a book, I almost always start my next book immediately. So, the mark of a really great book is one that makes me hesitate to begin a new book. Burning Bright was one of these books - it made me so incredibly happy, that I had to stop and just bask in the afterglow.

There are so many different aspects of this book that make it exceptional.

Firstly, there's the talent-based magic system. In Burning Bright, certain people manifest "talents" between the ages of eleven and twelve, which grant them superhuman abilities. For example, Movers can carry incredibly large loads and Scorchers are able to start fires with just a thought. While superpowers aren't a new concept, what I found really interesting was the fact that the magic system was two-tiered. So, not only are there Movers and Scorchers, but there are also Extraordinary Movers and Scorchers who possess additional abilities. Extraordinary Movers can not only carry heavy loads, but they're also capable of flying. Extraordinary Scorchers can control and extinguish fires in addition to starting them. The two-tiered talent system was also reflective of the preoccupation with social status and rank in the Regency period. However, I do think readers would benefit from some sort of table or chart listing the different talents and their capabilities.

The characters in Burning Bright were also fantastic. The amount of time and thought that the author put into developing all of her characters was highly evident; even the secondary characters possessed unique features. For instance, there was the Jane Austen-loving midshipman Mr. Hervey and Peregrine, the nature-obsessed Healer. I could go on and on about my love for so many of the characters, but I'm going to focus on the main character Elinor.

At twenty-one, Elinor Pembroke thought she was doomed to a life of being ordinary until she unexpectedly manifested an Extraordinary Scorcher ability - the first British person to do so in over one hundred years. With her sudden increase in status, Elinor becomes a pawn in her father's efforts to increase his own wealth by orchestrating an advantageous match for her. When Elinor is forced to choose between two choices offered to her by her father, either marrying someone she can't stand or living an unhappy life as a spinster, Elinor devises a third option for herself - joining the Royal Navy in order to fully utilize her talent. I really admired Elinor's determination to make a life for herself on her own terms. In a time period where unmarried women were so sheltered and women were not considered to be much more than the property of the men in their lives, Elinor's tenacity is, dare I say it, extraordinary! Aboard the ship Athena, Elinor is under the command of Captain Miles Ramsay, a seemingly stoic Extraordinary Mover, and treated as an equal. I adored the dynamic between Captain Ramsay and Elinor, and the development of their relationship was so much fun to watch.

The plot of Burning Bright was absolutely riveting. From the beginning set in gentille, Regency London and then across the Atlantic to the pirate-infested Caribbean islands, I was hooked.

With its magic, lovable characters, and exciting plot, Burning Bright was an incredibly entertaining book. I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy and historical fiction.

i know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but i think the cover for burning bright is absolutely gorgeous, so i was totally predisposed to like the story within. luckily for me it's a really good story, so i can just love the whole package unabashedly.

burning bright tells the story of elinor pembroke, who woke up one day to discover that she had an extraordinary talent for fire. as a scorcher she can make things burn, but as an extraordinary scorcher she can also extinguish. this makes her valuable. to her father she becomes a trading chip, a way of bettering their family's lot in life by marriage. to potential suitors she is no more than a brood mare useful for improving their family's power. and for the royal navy she is a powerful weapon. it's the height of the napoleonic wars and the caribbean is overrun by pirates. her kind of firepower hasn't been seen in over one hundred years in england, and she's barely had a chance to explore all she can do.

when she realizes that she needs to take her life in her own hands to avoid a lifetime in servitude either as a wife or poor relation she offers herself to the royal navy. and as much as they navy wants to, they can't say no. they put her on the athena under the command of captain miles ramsay an extraordinary too, though his talent is moving. and together with his crew they go to war on the brethren of the coast a merciless band of pirates led by an extraordinary seer that is terrorizing the royal navy based in the caribbean.

elinor was rather impulsive in throwing her lot in with the royal navy. life on a ship is not easy for a woman, especially not one who was a member of the gentility. everything has changed for elinor, but as she begins to know her shipmates, as she learns the extent and breadth of her powers, this life that she impulsively chose becomes the life she will fight for above anything. when she is trapped in a political tug-of-war and her life is endangered she realizes that her home is the athena. when she snuck away and left her life behind she really was leaving forever. but what she discovers about herself on that ship and the relationships that grow on that ship makes it all worthwhile.

there is romance and adventure and war in this story. elinor's power is at times uncontrollable and she struggles with the impact of her actions on others. the relationship between elinor and miles is so very proper and also so very swoon-worthy. the way mcshane integrates this world of supernatural talents into our historical regency period is very well done. the author promises future books in the series, i for one can't wait to see where she goes with it.

**burning bright published on august 15, 2016. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/curiosity quills press in exchange for my honest review.

Burning Bright was a pleasant surprise and one of my favorite reads this year. Author McShane avoids so many of the usual cliches in the romance/historical romance/fantasy genre to give us wonderful but nicely nuanced characters in a brisk adventure. It is by no means a perfect book but it was one I was thinking about afterwards and wishing there were more in a series.

Story: Elinor manifests a talent of controlling fire - a talent that is considered 'extraordinary' because of the depth of control she has over it. But she is a 21 year old in Regency England and there is little she can do with the talent other than be a brood mare to make more extraordinaries. To avoid her father's machinations, she convinces the royal navy to take her as a 'weapon' against Napoleonic and pirate forces. But she will find many complications onboard ship as she tests and pushes her powers to help the navy survive.

Rather than was eloquent on why I like the book, I'll give concise bullet points:
- Avoids cardboard character syndrome of super good or super evil. Nearly every character is nuanced and if they become an adversary of Elinor, it's because of character defects or the mores of the era.
- Avoids insta luv by giving us a beautiful slow burn of a romance that is very understated and never upstages the action.
- Avoids the 'beautiful character' syndrome by making Elinor and her captain fairly plain and not beautiful or handsome. Elinor is courted by various people for her talent and not her looks.
- Avoids romance cliches of attraction - Elinor and her captain are attracted to each other because of their characters. Elinor doesn't smell him (the old "he smelled like wood and cinnamon" cliche ugh), doesn't admire his physique, and doesn't spend paragraphs blushing or wondering what it would be like to kiss him.
- Elinor doesn't spend the book being rude to the captain or others (a sign of a bad writer who can't figure out a way for the heroine to show mettle) and has quiet strength. Indeed, often she has to swallow her words and stay silent from the insults of various side characters.
- The book flows nicely and the story is about the adventure and not the romance.
- The magic is interesting and well described.
- There are heavy consequences to impulsive actions. She does not have mysteriously survive unscathed when jumping into unprepared situations
- That cover!!

Some nitpicks:
- It would be easy to say this is Austen inspired because of the setting and because Elinor has quiet strengths much like so many Austen characters. But the wit and sparkle of an Austen isn't here, though Burning Bright's Elinor did remind me much of Elinor from Sense and Sensibility.
- It did hit the cliche of "overheard key plot mystery" when our character is magically in the right place and the right time to overhear key points discussed by the bad guys.
- Anyone spending only a few minutes thinking about the magic in the world (even though it was a rare talent) would have found better uses for the magic users.
- Both the captain and Elinor are special snowflakes

In all, I have favorited this author on Goodreads and Amazon and hope for more books in this world. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

This book is about a book girl or woman aged 21 her name is Ms Elinor Pembroke. Her father wants to arrange her marriage because she has scorer powers. That just manifested and that's a rear and extraordinary power. The man he picks to married her to is 42 twice her age. So she decides her own future her self and is a differcult path she chooses. This was a good book the author has wrote this well and would recommend this book to people looking for a good book to read.

I will admit that I was skeptical when I started this book. It looked so good! The story sounded amazing! And just look at that beautiful cover! Something has to be wrong with it! Well, I couldn't find anything major (unless you count that it ended far too soon!)

From the very beginning, I loved Elinor. How can you not admire the bravery of someone who keeps her wits about her when she wakes up in a room that she started on fire? From the very beginning, she is portrayed as a quick-witted, resourceful, and intelligent young lady despite her failings to cling to everything society forces of her. When she lives within society's grasp, she acts like a silly little lady. She is not seen as more than "plain" or "unruly." When she leaves for her time with the Navy, however, we see her truly begin to shine. Now, she is important. Her flame is a respected wonder! She begins to feel as though she belongs!

And then, we have the wonderful Captain Miles Ramsay. I fell in love with him the moment he appeared on the page. His mild manners, kind heart, and chivalrous ways make him a terrific hero. From the very beginning, I was hoping that he would earn Elinor's heart.

Romance is a very difficult thing to write. The author must consider if their words are overly cheesy or sexual. They must consider the way that the romance develops as well. If it isn't obvious, the audience may not catch on. If it is too obvious, the reader may lose interest. Melissa McShane deserves a round of applause for the natural, easy, and obvious romance in this novel. I have read so few books where it is properly done, and with just the right number of corny aspects, that I was in awe of the way that McShane does so with ease!

This review will be posted on 9/5/2016n on the link below.

Final Thoughts
In Burning Bright, Melissa McShane creates a strong character. She uses this character to effectively develop her themes of personal strength, self-confidence, resourcefulness, and adaptability. With these qualities, one is able to survive in any surroundings.

Although this was my introduction to Melissa McShane's writing, it will definitely not be my last.

Elinor is the eldest daughter in a fairly wealthy family, but wants nothing to do with all the flair that comes with being a young, unmarried woman in society. But when she discovers she has an Extraordinary fire burning talent, her father thrusts her back into society to marry well and raise the family’s status. But when she finds herself with the option of marrying a total lech, or her being under her father’s miserable rule for the rest of her life, she takes the third option: join the Navy! Then the adventures begin.

I’ve found myself on a bit of a ship kick ever since I read “The Girl From Everywhere” by Heidi Hielig. And now I just want all the sail boats!

There are so many things that I adored about this book. Elinor is just awesomely tough and resourceful, the Captain is such a gentleman and resourceful leader (so dreamy!), and the magic is unique. I like all the different talents (especially Jumpers, what a cool concept!) and how the Navy has implemented them to their advantage.

Overall I think I just loved that it was an adventure, there are pirates, a girl putting misogynistic creeps in their place, sea battles, magic battles and a cute little romance to top it off.

The one downside is that I struggled a little in the beginning. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but I don’t like how the author revealed some of the magical elements of the world. Things were mentioned, but not explained for a little bit, and I felt myself wondering if I’d missed something, or was just dumb. An example would be the “Extraordinary” part of the talents. At first I assumed that was just what those with abilities were called, but then it’s revealed that it’s those with exceptional abilities, and I don’t think that was really properly explained because I still don’t know where the distinction is other than, they’re really good.

This also happened with a couple of characters with abilities where they did something magical, and I was confused, thinking I’d missed an explanation of their ability, but then it’s explained a little later ( I thought one character was a mover at first, then jumpers were explained). But once everything was established, everything flowed smoothly and it was easy to forgive the miscommunication in the beginning.

I’m really excited for this series. It sounds like each book will focus on a different female character in the world with an extraordinary talent.

Oh, the worst thing about this book? That it’s only available in ebook so I can’t buy a pretty hardcover to go on my bookshelf *pouts*

Great Book!! A very fresh take on a time period that has been done to death this book throws in Magic and makes the old seem new, I highly recommend!!!!

Great adventure story. Loved Elinor. She is incredibly gutsy and brave and I really enjoyed her as the main character. I also loved the magical abilities. The fantasy elements are interesting and easy to understand and follow. The story flowed nicely and I can't wait for more.

Possibly 4.5 stars.

I really enjoyed Burning Brightly, and I was excited when I saw that it's the first in a series (each book about a different woman, but still). I will definitely continue the series, as well as check out any other books this author writes.

The writing style was easy to read and also somehow elegant. The characters were well developed, and I quickly became fond of them (well, the likable ones, anyway). Their actions had consequences, which I appreciated. I enjoyed watching Elinor grow in her abilities and confidence; I liked her, with her strengths and weaknesses. I adored Ramsay, including his imperfections and faults--he made mistakes, and that helped make him feel real to me. The love story was very slow to develop and extremely satisfying.

This alternate 1812 London seemed interestingly real. The existence of people with "talents" felt entirely plausible in the way it was written. I thought they were integrated into the real world quite seamlessly, and the world building was effective but not overwhelming. There wasn't any infodumping, but I never felt confused by the world in which the book takes place.

I considered 5 stars, but a couple things prevented me from awarding that last .5-1 star. There were a few chapters around the late middle that moved very slowly (Elinor on the island). Chapter 25 (the final chapter) somehow fell a little flat for me. Normally I wish for more--another chapter or an epilogue. But this time, that final chapter was almost a bit too . . . sweet? I dunno. It almost felt a little out of character for the rest of the book. But perhaps it's because the restraints have been broken. Again, I don't know.

Don't get me wrong: I am happy with the ending. Perhaps it's simply the execution of that ending that was a little underwhelming.

Oh, and I was quite happy when Elinor's and Ramsay's ages were finally revealed, especially because I guessed correctly for him (her age was already provided). Btw, Ramsay's name (Miles) fits him so well. I don't know why I love it.

Note: A little mild swearing. Gently implied sex (once; and I mean gently implied--nothing is shown beyond a tiny bit of kissing).

Burning Bright is the first book that I have read by Melissa McShane, and it will certainly not be the only or last! Love, love loved it! Loved the characters, the regency details, the fantastical aspect, the location descriptions, the exhilarating adventure, the inner conflict and growth of the heroine, the romance, and even the way interpersonal conflict is treated.

This book is so very addicting, and once it gets going, impossible to put down. Our heroine Elinor has many battles to face, and much to overcome, including her self-serving ass of a father, the prejudices of society about women, her compatriots' jealousy and disdain, ruthless enemies of England, and her own feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Spoiler alert, she turns out to be a pretty fierce bad-ass.

As an interesting aside, most of the gifted people are in the peerage, and their lineage is jealously tracked, perhaps in an attempt to keep all of the power in the nobility. The Royal family are gifted, which is interesting as <spoiler> [ the King's madness is attributed to having an extraordinary gift of discerning how everyone around him is feeling, and being 'unable to distinguish between his own emotions and theirs.' </spoiler>

The balance of historical and fantastical is just perfect. Elinor and Captain Ramsey are my idea of a perfect heroine and hero.

Highly recommended, very enjoyable.

Smoothly written and excellently edited, with an exciting and absorbing plot, this book kept me reading after I had planned to go to bed. Not without its flaws, but the strengths more than make up for it.

If Temeraire is O'Brien meets Anne McCaffrey, this is O'Brien meets Julian May, or possibly early Sherry Tepper. Rather than the dragons of Temeraire, this Napoleonic naval story has Talents, who have what amount to psychic powers: telekinesis, teleportation, telepathy, clairvoyance, empathy, and, in the case of the protagonist, the ability to control fire. In fact, she has an Extraordinary-level ability with fire, which means she can extinguish it as well as lighting it.

This is a great premise, and the author explores the fire aspect well: its pleasures, its danger, its limitations as well as its powers, and what it means for a well-brought-up young woman of the Regency period to have such an ability. In order to avoid a compelled marriage, she convinces the First Lord of the Admiralty to use her as a weapon, and that drives the rest of the plot. She must confront the realities of being in the military, including how she feels about killing enemies and about the death of friends. She must also learn to stand up for herself in a man's world, which provides a wonderful character arc, and she gets the opportunity, rare for a woman of her class and time period, to be a friend and colleague to men.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I did note some issues. These weren't, for a change, with the copy editing; that was excellent. Rather, they were details of the setting and one or two things that looked like plot holes.

The idea of the Talents is wonderful, but I didn't get a sense of any depth of history to them. How were they regarded in earlier ages? What was the relationship of religion to them? (This could easily have been explored, as the ship's chaplain was an empath, though a very bad one.) How had they changed history - and how had they not changed history, so that England was fighting the Napoleonic Wars in what should have been a very different world? (This is also one of the weaknesses of Temeraire, or any historical fantasy, for that matter, and is, I assume, why Mary Robinette Kowal made the rule that the magic in her Glamourist Histories must be weak enough not to be able to change history very much.) I also didn't get a sense of how they were used outside a military context, which they surely would have been. Given that this is early-19th-century Britain, I would expect to see an elaborate set of social conventions around the talents, with special titles, forms of address, perhaps guilds with livery and officers and symbols and ritual, gradations of talent and training, odd medieval terminology and traditions. Instead, they felt as if they'd suddenly come into existence just a few years before the story was set (which was not what we were told).

I could ignore all that, but there was also a question that kept occurring to me throughout the book: why don't the Scorchers (the fire-controllers) simply target the ships' magazines? Does their talent only work line-of-sight? This question could have been raised in order to be dismissed - but at one point the magazine is targeted. That seems like a plot hole to me.

There's a convenient coincidence, too, when the protagonist finds the pirates' base. There's only the one, so I'll reluctantly allow it, especially since there's plenty of bravery and danger going on at the time.

Just a couple more nitpicks, and I'll return to praising it. First, at one point it indirectly quotes a Rudyard Kipling poem ("Danegeld"), about a century too early, though I suppose Kipling could have been drawing on an existing saying. Second, and more importantly, there's some insistence that seeing black people in the West Indies was a strange novelty to the protagonist. It's now well established that there were plenty of black people in Britain around this period; there's at least one in Jane Austen, in fact. Possibly, as a sheltered daughter of a country family, she might not have encountered any, but they were hardly as exotic as it would seem from the way they're treated here.

Going in, I thought this would be a romance. For a very long time, it wasn't, and I finally decided it wasn't going to be - and then a romance plot did turn up near the end after all, so I can't quite decide what to call it. Military adventure fantasy with psychic powers and a (late-arriving) romance subplot, I think. Whatever it is, I enjoyed it very much, loved the main character, and want to read more in the series.

This book was nothing short of amazing for me. I'm partial to the Regency era in my historical fiction, so right there, the setting was up my alley. I love books where the romance isn't the primary focus, where the characters get to know one another and they don't do any pre-marital things (I rather have plot than naughty bits, unless I want naughty, then I don't need the plot so much). The magic system was great, I loved how it worked. The MC kinda has this amazing out of this world power, BUT being a woman in that time period, she didn't have power over herself, over her future. It was an interesting contrast.

The story arc in this was concluded, but it is apparently part of a series and I say BRING IT ON!!! I loved the MC and how she was able to face her demons. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, there was death and fighting and it was gruesome and heartbreaking when it was a character we got to know and like.

And I have to say, that cover is GORGEOUS!!

This book was all around great. Kind of violent, but only suggested hanky panky. I would say good for young adult on up. Five huge stars. I really enjoyed this book. I would have torn through it faster, but life and work got in the way. I can't wait for the next book! Highly recommended if you enjoy alternate worlds that are similar to our own, except for some magic, and a historical setting.

My thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

This was a great book--a mix of Regency, swashbuckling, and coming of age. I really enjoyed reading it, and was drawn in from page one. The heroine was relatable, strong, believable, and someone for readers to admire.
Some may feel that it took a bit for the story to really get going, but that background was necessary for the reader to understand why Elinor was driven to take the life-altering step to join the Royal Navy. The setting was very well described, and just enough explanation was given about various aspects of ship life for the reader to understand what was going on without being bored by too many details.
I really enjoyed the character of Elinor, as well as Captain Ramsay. Elinor's relationships with everyone on board the ship was interesting to watch unfold. I also liked watching Elinor come into her powers, learn how to use and control them, and see just what her limits could be.
My only problem with the book was that the ending was just a bit too abrupt. It seemed to end up perfectly with everything tied up in a nice bow on top, when some of the issues Elinor and Ramsay must face were extremely intense. I would have liked a little more time to have been spent addressing those issues. If felt slightly glossed over.
I really did enjoy reading this book, however, and look forward to reading more about Elinor's adventures in later books. I would absolutely recommend this book.

This was a great book--a mix of Regency, swashbuckling, and coming of age. I really enjoyed reading it, and was drawn in from page one. The heroine was relatable, strong, believable, and someone for readers to admire.
Some may feel that it took a bit for the story to really get going, but that background was necessary for the reader to understand why Elinor was driven to take the life-altering step to join the Royal Navy. The setting was very well described, and just enough explanation was given about various aspects of ship life for the reader to understand what was going on without being bored by too many details.
I really enjoyed the character of Elinor, as well as Captain Ramsay. Elinor's relationships with everyone on board the ship was interesting to watch unfold. I also liked watching Elinor come into her powers, learn how to use and control them, and see just what her limits could be.
My only problem with the book was that the ending was just a bit too abrupt. It seemed to end up perfectly with everything tied up with a nice bow on top, when some of the issues Elinor and Ramsay must face were extremely intense. I would have liked a little more time to have been spent addressing those issues. If felt slightly glossed over.
I really did enjoy reading this book, however, and look forward to reading more about Elinor's adventures in later books. I would absolutely recommend this book.

This had a really interesting premise but I did find it a little hard to get through at times. Overall though, I enjoyed it can see myself rereading it in the future. :)

Melissa McShane has been on my to-read list for a while, but I just never got around to reading any of her books. This is my first, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book summary is spot-on, so I’m not going to address the plot here. Basically, the first part of the book involves Elinor trying to figure out how to inhabit a very unusual role for a woman, as a member of the Royal Navy. That part of the book is a bit slow-moving, as Elinor learns about shipboard life and tries to establish relationships with her crewmates. Even after the ship arrives in the Caribbean, Elinor is still trying to figure out what her role is supposed to be, since the Navy doesn’t quite seem to know how to use her skills, either.

When the ship moves to engage the pirates, that’s when the action really takes off. From that point until the end of the book, the plot moves forward quickly, through various battles with their enemies. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors of battle or being able to set your opponents on fire, either.

Very late in the novel, the slow-burn romance that’s been building through the entire narrative finally comes to the forefront in a very dramatic way. I liked how the author built to that point and found the resolution of that part of the story very satisfying.

The ending leaves it open for another book featuring Elinor’s adventures. But I'd be happy to read any book set in this alternate version of our world, because I found the system of magical talents described here very intriguing. So, when the next book comes out, I’ll be reading!

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Elinor is a fantastic strong female character who chooses her own path. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about naval battles and the sea -- mostly because they were through the eyes of a character I truly liked. I highly recommend this book, and will be watching for the next book in the series!

BUY BUY BUY

Adventure, magic, passion, chaos...... Fantasy... what more could you ask for in a book? I was totally engrossed and entertained from page one. I enjoyed the ability of the author to set the stage for the mind to picture the story as it moved along. A plot line that engrossed you and keeps you wanting more. I adored the characters as well as the way each was developed. I could not ask for a more engrossing read in this genre. I look forward to more from this author and cannot wait to see what comes next.

If your a fan of fantasty historical romance you will no doubt adore this book. I will not write a spoiler but I will say engrossing, entertaining as well as passionate. Buy and sit and enjoy. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

I was extraordinarily surprised by how much I ended up liking this book. The concept of certain abilities being common place and having a sort of 'ranking' system for them was pretty fun to read about. I also really loved the interaction of an unattached female during this time period as well as a female in the Navy and on ships during this period. It seemed really accurate from what I know about history and it was fun to read about.

I really love the relationship between Elinor and Miles. They started out very rocky and moved from that to a nice friendship. This was also a romance novel of old, by that I mean none of the explicit descriptions that are common in many romance stories today. You barely even get a kiss out of the couple but I never once missed it. Overall an excellent story and I will happily continue reading this series!

In 1812, Elinor Pembroke wakes to find her bedchamber in flames—and extinguishes them with a thought. At 21, she is old to manifest magical talent, but the evidence is unmistakable: she not only has the ability to start fires, but the far more powerful ability to control and extinguish them. She is an Extraordinary, and the only one in England capable of wielding fire in over one hundred years.

As an Extraordinary, she is respected and feared, but to her father, she represents power and prestige for himself. Mr. Pembroke, having spent his life studying magic, is determined to control Elinor and her talent by forcing her to marry where he chooses, a marriage that will produce even more powerful offspring. Trapped between the choices of a loveless marriage or living penniless and dependent on her parents, Elinor takes a third path: she defies tradition and society to join the Royal Navy.

Assigned to serve under Captain Miles Ramsay aboard the frigate Athena, she turns her fiery talent on England’s enemies, French privateers and vicious pirates preying on English ships in the Caribbean. At first feared by her shipmates, a growing number of victories make her truly part of Athena’s crew and bring her joy in her fire. But as her power grows and changes in unexpected ways, Elinor’s ability to control it is challenged. She may have the power to destroy her enemies utterly—but could it be at the cost of her own life?

Burning Bright combines shipboard adventures, wars with pirates, and an interesting magical system with just a little romance and I loved it! Can’t wait for the next episode.

Welcome to a world where having a gift makes you Extraordinary! It’s the War of 1812 and Napoleon isn’t the only enemy… and definitely not the only enemy with a few Extraordinaries on their side! Time to even the odds! Let’s meet Elinor, shall we? Elinor is a Scorcher. She can set anything on fire at will and extinguish any attack. Her fire ability not only makes her a worth opponent at war, but she’s also able to fight the battle of wits as she puts men in their place! However, her father wants to marry her off so he can profit and reap the rewards of her talent. He has no care or thought as what she thinks or how she feels about this. So… she must take her life and her fate in her own hands.

Her father told her she had two choices, marry who he picks or be dependent on him and will make no allowances. By forcing her to choose between these two options, her father (inadvertently) forced her to create a third option. What a choice it was! She joins the Navy… at a time when there were no women in the military, a time where you were still considered property of your husband. Elinor has made herself pretty useful to the British Navy, but not without trials and tribulations! Those without gifts are either jealous or afraid of those with gifts. But Elinor has no ordinary fire ability! She’s quite possibly the strongest Scorcher in history to date. Captain Miles Ramsey is no slouch in the Extraordinary department either. He’s a Mover! (yep, exactly what it sounds like… and he can fly with this ability) How cool is that?! Together, can they defeat the pirates (who have gifts of their own) and Napoleon?

The writing and character development were great. Elinor started off as a timid young woman who just wanted to appease her father because he scars her. Through her experiences with the Navy, she becomes strong and independent. The world creation was explicit and well done. I felt as though I was standing on deck with Captain Ramsey awaiting orders. While there was a romance aspect to the story, it wasn’t a major part. It was truly amazing to read a story about a young woman grabbing by the lapels and saying, “We’re doing this MY way!” It was a great read and I look forward to book 2!

I don't know Ms. McShane but, this is AWESOME!!!!!

hah! I was curious because of the fire actually in the cover.. and the description.. but when I read the story.... awwweeessooommmeee...

I like it! I really really really like it. While reading, I imagine old England, where people dresses heavy, where girls wear gowns everyday.. I honestly reading the book in English accent (in my head of course!) but honestly tried reading aloud. (hah!)

I super enjoyed the story, the voyage, the scene when I thought Elinor will be captured and die in the hands of the pirates. And though I know she'll not die, still the thrill of getting caught is nice.

I am not satisfied on how this book described Capt. Miles Ramsay. Though he is not that really good looking, but he dress well.. I hope there'll be a sequel on their story.. A little bit of romance will not hurt...

I really really really recommend the book.. a nice break on sci-fi stories.. :)

So this book was all kinds of wonderful.

Elinor Pembroke wakes up to her room on fire, manifesting as an Extraordinary Scorcher. Her father takes advantage and gives her two options: marry the man he picked out or be a trapped spinster, with no income. Elinor can't do either so she makes a third choice and joins the royal navy.

This book was like elemental fantasy meets regency romance and I adored it. The world building is familiar and wonderful. It felt almost steampunk but fantastical instead.

Elinor grows as a character and we get to along with her. She is a mouse in the beginning but as she makes her choices she comes out of her shell. Elinor proves herself to the men of her world and more importantly to her own self.

I adored the cast of characters. Captain Miles Ramsay was interesting and I liked that there was friendship first. I grew as attached to the crew (and especially Captain Ramsey) as Elinor and loved the trust built over time and forged in battle.

I liked that there are some darker parts like the psychological effects of killing men in war and the desire of the fire to consume everything including the person that wields it. Its an emotional burden that any person would have to deal with and it makes Elinor feel more real because it effects her.

I loved the vivid details of ship life and the personalities that are forced to get along in that limited space. I was impressed with the accommodations that were made for Elinor and the respect every character learned for one another as they struggle with someone who is so outside their normal. I loved that it is not just because she's a woman but because she turns out to represent the single greatest weapon the ship carries. This has so much the emotional impact and that the action fully supports both the physical and emotional adaptations needed for Elinor to learn to not only survive but love it.

I want to read the next book and I hope that Elinor will make an appearance.

Needless to say the first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. The magnificent cover. Then one thing leads to and I devoured - the limit of my knowledge of English and free time - this story. I get really crazy the stories where history and fantasy are mixed as in this case. Our protagonist has virtually the fire in the blood. She can create, extinguish, and manipulate it as she pleases.
Burning Bright is a mixture between maritime adventures and magic with a touch of romance that never hurts. It is the journey of a woman from the unexpected and rare talent (at age 21 she had to be too big to manifest powers) that will find her way and place in the world.
The Regency period is fascinating and used in many novels but this told from McShane is an alternate Regency with characters with magical powers.
This novel has virtually everything I love in a novel, except perhaps that I would have preferred more romantic scenes. I love stories with pirates, main characters outside the box and with historical settings, there is little to do.
The style of McShane is very good and fluid, an English not too complicated for anyone who is not a native speaker like me. So I could also recommend it to those who are starting out in foreign readings.
A compelling story that I recommend to anyone who loves the adventure and the characters full of determination and courage.

I have a soft spot for historical romances, so this was right up my alley - you get the formal conventions of the time (where the mere brush of hands is shockingly forward!) and more verbose repartee (why use one word when you can sound like a Thesaurus?) along with magical powers, yesss! <3

Usually in regency romances, when a society miss is faced with an overbearing parent who wishes to marry them off against their will, the fair maiden has little choice but to either a) find a rogue to compromise her ;) or b) masquerade as a man and go into service. However, when one manifests an Extraordinary Talent, there is another way out - joining the Navy!

All right, obviously this isn't adhering to the social strictures of the time period, but the author has created an alternate universe where men and women both have the potential for powerful magical abilities, so I can handwave away the unlikely event of Elinor being permitted to board the Athena to serve with Ramsay's crew. Of course she isn't accorded the respect and deference she is due simply because she's a Scorcher - society isn't that progressive, it might begrudgingly accept her much-needed assistance in the battle against pirates and foreign enemies, but it isn't all smooth sailing. Elinor faces some opposition and lingering hostility along the way, but I love how she holds her head high and maintains her calm dignity and poise throughout. She really is my dream protagonist with her practical resourcefulness and determination to prove herself through hard work rather than taking offense at being scoffed at by the crew. No whining, no hysterical fits, just a quiet steely resolve. <3

I have a lot of issues with the all too common crop of heroines these days who are immature, mouthy and brash, the type who will talk big but can't follow through and whose lack of caution and rational thinking gets them into trouble that the tough manly man love interest will need to rescue them from. But praise Elinor for not being one of them! At the start, she's rather the opposite - she's meek and mild-mannered, sometimes by nature and sometimes to fly under the radar until she can quietly accomplish her goal. She has this amazing gift, but it only manifested on her 21st birthday when she'd long been thought useless and a disappointment to the family - Elinor can (and will) do great things, but her ability to conjure and control fire doesn't miraculously give her a boost of self-confidence all at once. Her naturally quiet temperament plus the rigid attitudes of the time toward women - namely, they should be seen but not heard - means that Elinor struggles to assert herself sometimes, but as someone who is similarly shy and retiring, it's such a joy and pure wish-fulfillment to see her grow throughout the story into a whole new woman who is more self-assured and authoritative.

It feels a little odd to describe this as a 'coming of age' story, but it shares some similar tropes, especially with 'The Hero's Journey' that Elinor embarks on and how she goes from being dependent on her family with no real status of her own to developing her power and forging a new role for herself in society, regardless of what others have planned. The story is filled with danger and thrills and adventure, but there are some poignant moments of self-discovery and character growth that have me wriggling with triumph and satisfaction at Elinor's breakthroughs, whether in her personal life or in leveling up her magical ability and proving herself to those who doubted her with a showy display of skill and courage!

This is described as a romance, but it's of a very slow-burn (heh) variety - that's my favorite kind, so I adore this! But readers who are more inclined to steamy bodice-rippers may not find it as appealing because Elinor and Ramsay's courtship is based on slowly growing mutual respect and trust in each other, on a chaste affection that gradually turns into love. Considering how scandalous it is merely for them to be in the same room as each other if the door isn't open, it wouldn't be realistic for them to be tearing each other's clothes off a couple chapters in! And in this day and age of insta-love ad nauseum, I am definitely a fan of an understated romance which develops in the background while these characters are engaging in battles against pirates and embroiled in political conflicts with their own organization. I find it more emotionally satisfying that they learn to have faith in each other's abilities and have each other's back in battle so that they're firm comrades before anything romantic ensues. Plus Elinor and Ramsay are just so sweet and adorable with their droll witty banter! :D I love the speech mannerisms in these historical novels, I wish I could be as eloquent, lol.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed Burning Bright - the protagonist was wonderful, easy to relate to and root for, and the plot had me hooked. I loved reading about Elinor practicing and using her Scorcher abilities, and was so jittery with anticipation and on tenterhooks reading about her misadventures; the author does very well with drawing out suspense and then nailing the frenetic action! I can't wait to read more in this series. <3

It is a truth universally acknowledged that when manifesting a talent for fire, a lady of good breeding must be in want of a husband of good fortune. Bucking her father's wishes, Elinor Pembroke decides to use her gift as an Extraordinary Scorcher for good instead of wasting away as some gross lord's broodmare. So she convinces the hard-pressed Admiralty that the Royal Navy needs a lady with her particular skill set and gets shackled to Captain Ramsay for her efforts. Elinor and the Captain begin to work together to bring down the deadly pirate scourge in the West Indies.

This is an alternate history Regency novel with people gifted with superpowers. And pirates. Firebugs. Ladies' reputations. And the Navy. Wuuuuuuuuut.

I loved this. Ok, there are probably quite a few anachronisms and what have you, but this is well done alternate historical fiction, in my book. It's a damn good story. And a romance (mild, soooo mild (view spoiler)) too.

And the sequel comes out in January! Woohoo!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

BURNING BRIGHT by Melissa McShane is part traditional Regency era novel, part nautical fantasy – a combination that’s a ton of fun and sure to entertain anyone who enjoys historical fantasy.

Stifled by her overbearing and emotionally abusive father, Elinor Pembroke is desperate to escape her life. But there are few options for a girl with no fortune and average looks; few options, that is, until her Extraordinary magical gift manifests. Most members of the upper class are gifted in some way, but Extraordinaries are rare and valuable…especially the women, who are often treated like broodmares.

Understandably, that life holds even less appeal for Elinor than her current straits, and our plucky heroine takes matters into her own hands: she will leverage her gifts to gain entry into His Majesty’s Navy, and join them in their fight against Napoleon. Although untrained and untested, Elinor’s Scorcher abilities enable her to conjure and resist fire, a powerful weapon on ships made entirely out of wood. That’s not the sort of thing the Navy can turn down, even if Elinor is a woman.

Obviously, this book isn’t exactly an accurate representation of the social attitudes and opportunities available for women (or working class people) during the period. Thankfully I was able to embrace the inaccuracies for what they were: an opportunity to give Elinor a story that is considerably more fun than it would’ve been otherwise. It was very refreshing to read a historical fantasy with a heroine who has just as many allies as she does detractors, since it gets a bit depressing reading about people who have to slog through obstacle after obstacle. That said, Elinor doesn’t have it easy and she does encounter some nasty characters among the crew of The Athena, but for the most part BURNING BRIGHT is just a fun adventure novel.

I haven’t read any fantasy novels set at sea other than BURNING BRIGHT so while I can’t compare it to others, I can say that I absolutely adored the setting. The well-oiled machine that is a naval ship, the cramped quarters below deck, the gorgeous vistas described from the deck of The Athena, and the Caribbean islands that Elinor and the crew docked at really made this book for me. Based on how much I enjoyed this setting, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more nautical fantasy novels in the future!

Melissa McShane also does a good job bringing the battles at sea to life, and I was almost holding my breath during a few particularly tense scenes. These battles were particularly important because they were really the only times we got to see Elinor use her Scorcher abilities and show everyone what a badass she is. I definitely wanted to learn more about the magic behind Extraordinaries and their abilities, and overall I though that the magical aspects of the world building were lacking. Hopefully that’s something that McShane fixes in the sequel!

Overall BURNING BRIGHT is a fun, fluffy historical fantasy – the perfect reading material for a dreary weekend afternoon.

Burning Bright, the first book in Melissa McShane's latest series, The Extraordinaries,is a well crafted tale spun with care in an alternate universe almost identical to ours.


Elinor Pembroke wakes up, her bedchamber on fire. She extinguishes the flames with only a touch of her mind. But at 21, Elinor is considered too old to present her talent, after all, even her younger sister showed hers years ago. But Elinor's talent is much stronger than anyone anticipated. She is an Extraordinary Scorcher, and unusually powerful for even that.


Faced with the choice of being forced to marry a man who disgusts her, or living the rest of her life on the generosity of her relations, Elinor makes a third choice. One most unexpected, and unsuitable for any lady of her station.


While learning how to harness her powers, Elinor navigates her way through the unending bureaucracy of 19th century British Naval command. She meets another Extraordinary, the captain of the ship she is first assigned to. Captain Ramsey and Elinor strike up an unsuitable friendship, and that friendship saves the lives of them both.


Burning Bright was an enjoyable story, there was romantic tension throughout the book, but it didn't become blatant until the end, when Elinor makes the final decisions about who she is, what she wants, and what she will become. Which was nice. She wasn't pressured into the relationship, she didn't feel obliged to the romance, and it wasn't forced, it evolved naturally. This is a little unusual in most novels with that heavy of romantic tension, especially because the choices were left firmly in the female protagonist's hands.


The book is very well suited to YA/NA readers, although there are a few scenes with semi-explicit violence. But these scenes are handled with a light touch, and there are genuine reactions from the characters regarding their feelings about those acts.

Historical fantasy. Elinor has an amazing and terrible power to create and control fire. When her father insists on marrying her off for his own gain, Elinor runs away, chosing instead to serve the Royal Navy.

Battling against privateers and pirates who have people with magical powers of their owns proves difficult, as Elinor fights to keep herself and her crew alive, as well as find her place in the world as a woman.

Interesting read!

McShane's Burning Bright, the first in a new series, mixes Regency England, with its ballrooms and its far flung Navy, with the fantasy genre of average, talented or extraordinarily talented peoples. The book flows quickly and was really enjoyable. I look forward to more in this adventure, barely romance, series.
Received advanced e-galley this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. Many thanks!

This was a really well made historical fantasy romance. The history, the interpersonal cultural politics, and the military politics were all beautifully handled. The main characters and the background characters were fleshed out individuals.

The leads, Miles and Elinor, were both intelligent, capable people with very human flaws. While Elinor was hardheaded and overconfident, <spoiler>with tragic results that she is going to pay for lifelong</spoiler>, she did grow and learn from her mistakes, which is all anyone can ask of anybody. I loved their clever interactions and the way their relationship grew slowly and organically.

Bravo, Ms. McShane!

Very rarely do I read books from smaller presses, especially if it’s not one I’m familiar with. I’ve read some Entangled and Spencer Hill because they publish some authors I already know. Curiosity Quills was a total gamble based on the fact that this premise is such Christina bait. Historical fantasy was my favorite subgenre of 2016, and I want so many more in 2017. If you enjoyed Dark Days Club and/or These Vicious Masks, you will likely enjoy the hell out of Burning Bright, like I did.


Burning Bright takes place in 1812. England’s at war with Napoleon, and, oh yeah, some people have talents. The talents vary: there are Speakers who can communicate across distances, Bounders who can jump across space, Movers who can move things with their minds, and Scorchers who can manipulate fire, to name a few. There are also Extraordinary talents, which means they have one of the regular abilities turned up to eleven.

Elinor, 21, is a talentless spinster and her family’s given up on her prospects until one night she sets her room on fire in her sleep. She wakes up and puts the fire out, also with her mind. Turns out she’s an Extraordinary Scorcher, and all of a sudden her family’s thrilled to give her another season in London and sell her off to the highest bidder. Talents are highly sought after in wives, much like dowries, in the hopes that they will breed more talented children.

Having loathed her first London season, Elinor’s less than thrilled. Plus, her father, who’s always been emotionally abusive and loathsome, is suddenly playing nice, but it’s not genuine. After her first night out in this new season, where she meets with success, an asshole forces a kiss on her and, because of his future title, her dad’s like “you will marry him.” Elinor says fuck that (not literally) and refuses to either marry a dick who won’t treat her any better than her father or to stay with her family, hated forever. Instead, Elinor chooses option three: she marches down to the Admiralty, barges in, makes a spectacle, and demands to be the first woman allowed to serve in the Navy. And that’s how Elinor escapes an abusive dad to go fight pirates.

Like, come on, how badass is that plot? Is it not what dreams are made of? The talents are really cool, and the Extraordinary/regular talent distinction makes the world building feel distinct. Elinor’s a massively powerful Extraordinary Scorcher, and she’s the only one in England, but she’s not the chosen one or the only Extraordinary Scorcher in the world. She does become massively proficient at her talent without training, which normally annoys me, but for some reason didn’t here. I think it’s because her struggle isn’t learning how to use her power, but how to keep her power from using her. Her Scorching power is constantly wanting her to burn the world down, and she has to fight against this dark urge. She actually goes Dark Phoenix levels of out of control sometimes and it’s intense.

Risking her reputation and her life, Elinor sets sail with Captain Miles Ramsay, with whom she had a brief awkward run-in at that first ball. These two are so cute and go from distaste for one another to friends to love. These two make such a good team, and I totally ship it. There’s something about couples who totally support and trust one another that really gets me. View Spoiler »

I loved the adventure of Burning Bright, the sea battles and the daring exploits. Elinor slowly comes out of her shell, embraces who she is, and faces down her personal demons. She’s been raised a lady, and she doesn’t immediately become okay with living on a navy vessel. It’s so charming as she makes friends with some of the crew; she and one of the men even have a little book club going, and it’s so freaking cute!

More historical fantasy for me, please. This genre is just the best. Let’s take all the romantic elements of history and then give women magical powers so they can fuck the patriarchy. Best thing.

Fabulous read!

Extraordonaires is an interesting series set in a Regency era where magical talent is manifest. I must admit I kept thinking about the Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses books and Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series. I really enjoyed this and am sad it took me so long to get around to it. In fact I purchased the next in the series, 'Wandering Sight', after reading 'Burning Bright.'
What more do you need? A young, talented woman, Elinor Pembroke, trodden down by an autocratic, self seeking father, a handsome captain, Pirates, treachery, Lords of the Admiralty who see not the person, or disregard the person, a couple of navy Lordlings with helicopter relatives who pave their way.
Elinor is a Scorcher (fire adept) whose talent develops late. Being suddenly treated by her father as a genetic experiment to be married off to the highest bidder (think Earl or Viscount) with another talented family in order to produce prodigies, Elinor seeks another path, The Navy. As her powers increase Elinor must learn control or suffer the consequences.
A fascinating story of self awareness and development, gender discriminations of the age, all wrapped in a tightly honed package.
Those I appreciated are the ordinary seaman she works with who come to understand and accept Elinor's efforts.

A NetGalley ARC