Review of Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight (Darkest London #1)

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Imprint: Forever

Pub Date: February 01, 2012

ISBN: 9781455508594

Source: Netgalley

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

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.

My Review:

All I can say is ‘wow’. I have read a few historical paranormals, but none of them came close to Firelight.

Lord Benjamin Archer is a tortured soul, a loner, and lives with a curse. He wears a mask to cover what that curse did to him. Miranda can command, manipulate and control fire. Archer and Miranda meet one day in an alley as Miranda is confronted by some boys (Archer jumps in to rescue her, although she is capable of defending herself). 

Three years later, unable to stay away from Miranda, Archer offers for her hand in marriage, and of course Miranda’s father who is chin-high in debt agrees. Miranda has her own reasons for agreeing to marry Archer.

As the story progresses, we get to see how Archer adores her, although he is scared of losing her, once she sees what lies behind the masks. He’s also terrified of what his hands would do to her once he touches her, as he has inhuman strength. Miranda is scared of what Archer will think when he finally discovers what she is. The sexual tension between this two builds up, the longing, the desire.

In the midst of their attraction to each other, someone is going around killing Archer’s friends, and all the evidence points out to him. He is intent on finding out who it is. And so does Miranda. 

The characters, even the minor ones were wonderfully created, pacing was good. Oh, and the desperation, desire and sense of urgency between Archer and Miranda.

One of very wonderful dialogues, and believe me they are a number of them. 

 When she moved to kiss him, he cupped her face in his hands, and his gray eyes searched her face as if to commit it to memory. “Know this, there is only one truth left in me.” His trembling fingertips caressed her jaw. “That I love you.” He said it again, his voice broken, his arms pulling her tightly against him. “I love you. The rest is darkness.”

Her fingers curled around the smooth swells of his biceps. “Then let me be your light.”

Archer shuddered, dragging an open-mouthed kiss across her cheek to claim her lips. “Always, Miri.” He grew tighter, colder in her arms. “All that I am, all that I become is for you.”

I can’t wait to read the second book in this series.