Scan barcode
A review by candidcopywriter
A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
4.0
Honestly, I really don't know how to feel about this book. It captivated me from the very beginning with the intrigue and the thrill, though I usually prefer clean to the erotic types. But this book kept making me wonder about things like Stockholm Syndrome and abusive relationships.
Because how does it begin, really? With a big, bad guy (Griffin) kidnapping a feisty girl (Cat). He ties her to him with an enchanted rope, for God's sake! And she starts falling in love with him? Stockholm Syndrome 101! But then, it's shades of grey, isn't it? Because he's kind and doesn't otherwise harm her at all. He's better to her, even in his initial abuse, than her own family was when she was a kid.
She warms up to him pretty quickly because he has morals, unlike most others she knew. I'm not usually the type to condone such stories, which promote abuse as the start of a glowing relationship. But somehow, this is one of my favourite series.
Maybe I like it so much because Cat is a warrior, too: a broken, battered one who only comes into herself because of the very guy who kidnaps her. Maybe I found it so great because the world Amanda Bouchet has built is so rich and amazing. But I still think that there were better ways to start it and still take the story forward in a similar way.
Griffin could have explained his situation to Cat nicely. It may have not worked at first, but he could have persisted. He could have, well, not been so intimidating when he first met her, thus avoiding scaring her off. He could have just told her outright, after a few meetings, of course, about why he approached her in the first place(the Poseidon oracular dream) . There are so many things that he could have done differently, and the length of the book it takes for her to resign herself to being kidnapped could, instead, have been utilised in him convincing her to leave the circus and come with him. Their adventures could have still been the same.
That said, I still absolutely loved the plot and story arc. I loved the character development of the protagonists and the people around them, and the way Cat first warms up to Griffin's companions and they continue to be great friends. I loved the world-building, which is, perhaps, my favourite part of the series. So even though I'm conflicted because my morals don't agree with my emotions, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, because Amanda Bouchet is an amazing writer who knows how to captivate her readers.
Because how does it begin, really? With a big, bad guy (Griffin) kidnapping a feisty girl (Cat). He ties her to him with an enchanted rope, for God's sake! And she starts falling in love with him? Stockholm Syndrome 101! But then, it's shades of grey, isn't it? Because he's kind and doesn't otherwise harm her at all. He's better to her, even in his initial abuse, than her own family was when she was a kid.
She warms up to him pretty quickly because he has morals, unlike most others she knew. I'm not usually the type to condone such stories, which promote abuse as the start of a glowing relationship. But somehow, this is one of my favourite series.
Maybe I like it so much because Cat is a warrior, too: a broken, battered one who only comes into herself because of the very guy who kidnaps her. Maybe I found it so great because the world Amanda Bouchet has built is so rich and amazing. But I still think that there were better ways to start it and still take the story forward in a similar way.
Griffin could have explained his situation to Cat nicely. It may have not worked at first, but he could have persisted. He could have, well, not been so intimidating when he first met her, thus avoiding scaring her off. He could have just told her outright, after a few meetings, of course, about why he approached her in the first place
That said, I still absolutely loved the plot and story arc. I loved the character development of the protagonists and the people around them, and the way Cat first warms up to Griffin's companions and they continue to be great friends. I loved the world-building, which is, perhaps, my favourite part of the series. So even though I'm conflicted because my morals don't agree with my emotions, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, because Amanda Bouchet is an amazing writer who knows how to captivate her readers.