Cursed by Fire (Blood and Magic, #1)

by Danielle Annett

[Cocktails and Books]

This book was unbelievable! The action, the politics, the suspense, the subterfuge; I was completely enthralled. Aria is Psyker—a human born with psychokinetic powers. Aria’s power is pyrokinesis. Her father was also a Psyker and tried to teach her to harness and control her abilities before he was murdered before Aria’s eyes. One of the last things her father said to her was to stay away from other Psykers. Aria doesn’t know the reason but she hides her abilities and quickly moves away when she thinks anyone may be on to her secret.

Aria is currently in Spokane, Washington working as a mercenary. She’s working an abduction and murder case of a 7-year-old boy. The boy turns out to be a shifter and fingers are pointed at the vampire coven as the ones responsible. When a second shifter is murdered along with a vampire, both shifters and vampires begin preparing for war. Are one or both factions responsible or is there another deadlier threat on the horizon? Chaos ensues and lines are drawn. Aria wants no part of the upcoming war but she may not have a choice as every faction plots to woo her—and her invaluable powers—to their side. The action is just starting to heat up in this brilliantly crafted dog-eat-dog world where trust is deceptive and safety is a façade.

Oh my GOODNESS! I completely devoured this book in one siting it was THAT GOOD! I loved the reading about the new reality after the Awakening and about all the paranormal beings. I also loved Aria. Her strength was admirable and her constant struggles with self-control made her easily relatable. I liked how the story is told from first person point-of-view but I would have loved to have had other POV’s from James, a wolf shifter who’s a friend of Aria’s, Mike, Aria’s boss and father-figure and other characters in the story. On the other hand, being told from first person leaves more of a mystery and it’s one I’m completely hooked on!

I’m not sure what genre this book falls under but while reading it, it did feel a bit like a New Adult fantasy. There wasn’t any romance in the book but there’s certainly promise of one and I could see the possibility of a love triangle but there have been no love/lust feelings developed between Aria and any character in the book, yet. The story was solely focused on the suspense/mystery aspect as well as the threat of war.

I thought the story was amazing and I loved every word of it. The prologue gives us a little taste of what’s awaiting Aria in the next book and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Reviewed by Elizabeth H for Cocktails and Books