Review: Firelight by Kristin Callihan

Title: Firelight (The Darkest London #1)
Author: Kristin Callihan
Genre: Paranormal/Historical
Heat Index: 3 out of 5
Release Date: Jan. 31 2012
Word/Page Count: 384 pgs
Format: Netgalley

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask

Terrific historical with dark paranomal undertones.

Secrets abound. Miranda suffers under the guilt that she destroyed her family. Lord Benjamin Archer covers a deformity with masks. A murderer threatens them both when dark magic collides with passion.

Can you hear that 'movie voice guy'? Well good. That was the intent. I could try to give a synopsis, but the actual blurb does such a fine job, I'd just be reinventing the wheel.

Let me make this quick....Loved it! Go read it.

Now, I haven't had much luck with paranormal historicals. I love both genres, but there has always been something missing. Maybe it was the true fantasy like element. Firelight does that and more.

The key is very likeable characters. Miranda and Archer just click. You want to stay and visit with them, see what they are up to, and see how they get together. A huge part of that is the quick banter between them. Miranda is no sheltered debutante. She's a street smart gal with a quick mouth and sharp wit. Archer is...well, a sexy tortured hero. He's The Beast and Phantom rolled into one. That totally pushed all my right buttons!

The paranormal aspect also kept me guessing which, to be honest, is a a rarity. So that was a real treat. (And reading way past my bedtime.)

Now, this book isn't perfect (because no book is). There are some small issues with pacing and with the protagonists keeping secrets way too long to 'protect the other', but to be honest, I was caught up in the story itself that the minor irritations just got discarded. There is 'sequel bait' but I have to say it was done right.

Overall, I truly recommend Firelight as an entertaining read with great characters. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.