The Review

Kenna is a lonely artist, desperate to prove herself in her first show, something any artist knows is a true trial by fire. But what she isn’t prepared for is her emerging Otherness to be come out when she meets Erion, a strange, beautiful man that captivates her and arouses her like none other.

What she doesn’t realize, and has to play a really unfair game of catch up to figure out, is that she is what’s known as a Fire Element, and Erion is an Air Element; part human, part element, and possessing of strange and terrible powers that she can’t control except for when she’s with Erion. Add in an evil Fire Element bent on enslaving Kenna while being pursued by dragon-shifters that take a laissez-faire approach to police work, and suddenly the art show doesn’t seem quite as important any more.

I really felt Kenna’s confusion and frustration with this new world she had been shoved in, one where everyone else not only already knew the rules, but fully expected her to know them as well (wow with the unfair. I’m just saying). There were many times where I was just as uncertain as Kenna was as to what was actually going on, despite having the benefit of having seen Erion’s (conflicted) thoughts right there on the page for myself.

Speaking of Erion, I frequently found myself muttering at him to get his shit together, put on his big boy pants and move forward. His determination to not let things work between the two of them was endearing in a slightly chivalrous way at first, but quickly became little more than a series of excuses that I suspect Kenna will blaze right through once she realizes the magnitude of what he’s been up to.

I did have some trouble keeping the world straight, even once it had been explained for me, but then there wasn’t much time for dwelling over details when that happened, so I’m totally willing to go with it. Taking the time out to explain who and what and how would have utterly ruined the pacing of the action in the later portion of the book. I did get the sense that this was only the beginning of a much larger adventure, so hopefully there will be further books to expand on all of these truly interesting and gorgeous ideas.

The sex, and I know that’s the real reason why you’re reading this review, is scorching. Quite literally, in several cases. Erion and Kenna are combustible together (fire and air! Perfect!), and the rich sensuality of their love making is just delicious. Like hot chocolate fondue. Rawr.

Oh, come on, don’t tell me you’ve never looked at a chocolate fountain and had wicked thoughts.

I did have one major issue, but it’s spoilery, so I’m putting it behind the cut. The only reason why I’m mentioning it is because I found it to be slightly triggering, and as I came upon it unprepared, I had a lot of trouble moving on. However, since some people, hate spoilers like the plague, I’ll put the last bit out here, where I say that:

Otherwise, I very much enjoyed Born Into Fire and I would definitely recommend it (with warnings) to anyone that was looking for a hot, sexy fantasy book that tasted of all the potential of a series.

Elizabeth Silver