A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

A Promise of Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles, #1)

by Amanda Bouchet

Kingmaker. Soothsayer. Warrior. Mage. Kingdoms would rise and fall for her . . . if she is ever found

In the icy North, where magic is might, an all-powerful elite ruthlessly guided by a glacial Queen have grown to dominate the world. Now rebellion is stirring in the rough, magic-poor South, where for the first time in memory a warlord has succeeded in uniting the tribal nations.

Stuck in the middle is Cat - circus performer and soothsayer - safely hidden behind heavy make-up, bright colours and the harmless illusion of the circus. Until someone suspects she's more than she seems . . .

Captured by the Southern warlord Griffin, Cat's careful camouflage is wearing thin. For how long can - or should - she conceal the true extent of her power? Faced with dragons, homicidal mages, rival Gods and the traitorous longings of her own heart, she must decide: is it time to claim her destiny and fight?

An award-winning fantasy debut with an unforgettable heroine, set against a luminous world on the brink of battle, this is for those who love Ilona Andrews, Laini Taylor or Victoria Aveyard

'This book is utterly breathtaking!' Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author of the Charley Davidson series

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

5 of 5 stars

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Caffeinated reasons to grab your earbuds and listen to A Promise of Fire:

You love strong, kick-ass heroines who are destined for greatness despite their reluctance. Catalia “Cat” Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant who can tell when someone lies. She can absorb and reuse your magic and more. She is known as a Kingmaker, and is coveted by those in power. Cat is hiding, at the circus, and doing everything in her power to avoid being discovered. After escaping the tortures of her seriously demented, evil-mother, she only wants to live free. Cat is witty, brave and filled with snark. I loved her inner banter and her quick-witted remarks.

You love fantasy from the magic to the different realms and mythical beasts but you do not want multiple perspectives, different storylines and two hundred and fifty characters to keep track of. The world in Kingmaker Chronicles offers a world that reminds me of King Arthur’s time with kingdoms and classes. Now shake in magic, Greek mythology and supernatural creatures.

The rules for magic are simple, you are born with it or you are not. Of course, some are more powerful and the magic is different for all. There are gods, and these all come from our Greek mythology providing familiarity. In the Kingmaker Chronicles there are three kingdoms Fisa, Tarva, & Sinta. A Promise of Fire takes place in the kingdom of Sinta where the non-magical Hoi Polloi have overthrown the magical Magoi royals.

The Warlord Beta Sinta “Griffin” is seeking a magoi to aid his kingdom when he discovers Cat. he asks her to go with him, when she refuses he abducts her. With the help of neighbors to the south, Beta Sinta removed the corrupt regime in his land and placed his sister on the throne. This confounds Cat and you will love discovering the why of it all.

You love a Kate and Curran (characters from Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews) type romance filled with snark, undeniable chemistry, stubbornness, laughter and heat. Oh lordy this haters to lovers romance was sheer delight. While this started out as an abduction, Griffin was honorable and patient. I know, I know but just go with me on this. As the tale unfolded we discover he is not only ruggedly handsome but of noble character. At times Cat's strong personality outshines his, and I look forward to getting to know him more.

You love action, adventure, deception, scheming and more. Oh the battles were brilliant and sometimes, more often than not four against many. Giants, creatures, and oh yes my friends DRAGONS! Bouchet brought the world to life providing vivid imagery. She keeping the flow of the story moving at a steady pace with burst of action that had me holding my breath. Then she added a health dose of romantic moments that made me gigglesnort and swoon.

Secondary characters that are fleshed out, humorous and unique make you giddy. Wait until you meet Kato, Flynn and Carver. The banter and interaction between Beta Sinta, Cat and these three men was wonderfully addictive. I loved the Beta Sinta’s sisters, a certain healer, the Gods and more.


Mia Barron narrates and was completely new to me. I wasn't sure at first, but honestly I cannot image Cat without her. She captured the snark and tone of Cat's character from her inner dialogue to her struggle with feelings over Griffin and her own fears of discovery. Her male voices were discernible for each character and I am looking forward to her continuing this series. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 17 September, 2016: Finished reading
  • 17 September, 2016: Reviewed