Customer Reviews

Master of Fire (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is kind of an aside from the rest of the Magevese series. It is about Logan (Author's son) and Giada. The characters are well drawn and even the spear carriers are interesting. The menace this time is from an unexpected source and is fairly interesting.

So why 3 stars (a bit better than average for the genre). Some inconsistencies; as I remember Logan is some kind of corporate raider type not a bomb disposal guy. A mortar is a gadget used to fire a round not the thing that explodes (see the [...] article). Then there's the place where its a rifle in one paragraph and a shotgun in the next. Not as many or as obtrusive as some other publishers and authors but still annoying. Then there's the main characters. How does a small county sheriff department afford a bomb disposal and forensic chemist. I live in a small county and the Sheriff's department uses volunteers from the local fire districts (the districts pay for the training and certification out of their budgets) as arson investigators and forensics guys and relies on the state for bomb disposal and chemist support.

While the erotic scenes are nicely done, they don't save a somewhat weak plot.

BTW while this can be read standalone at least some familiarity with the mageverse will help it make sense (particularly the stories about the wolves).

Let me start off by saying I live in the same town that Angela Knight does. I've read every book Angela Knight has written, even the ebooks by various erotic publishers. I generally love everything that she's ever written.

That said, I can't help but be disappointed in this this one. Giada and Logan are hot together in the numerous well written sex scenes, but other then that, there isn't much going on between them. There's the typical mental trauma that only their lover can soothe, and they have to save the day once they unite. I'm hoping that this is just an aberration between the two series she is trying to bridge.

While reading this book I was torn, give up or see where it goes. The godling Smokes was the one of the best parts of this book. The second was Warlock. We all love peeks into the private lives of the classic characters (Arthur-Gwen-Morgana-Galahad-Gawain- etc but this was haphazard at times. Choppy in regards to Logan & Giada, who were a bit boring. Lust and hot sex isn't love. The short story of Galahad & Caroline was more believable.

If a Lady tricked me into ANYTHING! It would take time to resolve the anger. Not suddenly chase her as the LOML! That whole point in the book felt like a cruel setup from the fates. Logan seemed two people, a hothead who mouths off as well as a responsible cop who keeps the family secret well. Giada was okay but the insert of miraculously hidden power was forced to prove that an A& G product would be mated to a powerful Maja. NO REPERCUSSIONS that should have been the title. Fantasy is one only great when you believe in the circumstances being woven. Perhaps the L & G story was just a setup with few twists we didn't see coming. Because I wouldn't look forward to reading about them. Sorry Angela. I will read Master of Smoke hoping your usual wonderful storytelling.

It's been awhile since Knight has brought us to the Mageverse, but I don't remember it being like this. This book was more erotic (not necessarily in a good way--I don't care for the being forced scene) than romantic. Also, I know from reading the acknowledgement's page that Knight did research her topic, but the story still seemed a bit unconsistent. Another reviewer pointed out the rifle/shotgun reference, etc. so I don't want to say it again.

As far as the romance lacking, the characters fell too easily into bed together. I never like it when the author has her characters have sex then say "I love you" without any other relationship building. Sex does not equal love, and I dislike when they take that route.

More like 3.5 stars. I liked both of the leads, and Knight did a good job of making me believe that the hero Logan (human son of Gwen and Arthur) fell for the Maja Gaida who was sent undercover to protect him, he admires her intelligence as well as her beauty. But I had a harder time with Gaida's feelings for Logan. Lust? Yes. Love? Not so much. Logan hurts Gaida emotionally several times and she gives him the cold shoulder but Gaida' anger/hurt just faded away when he broached her barriers through seduction.

It was interesting to revisit the Mageverse series, it wasn't too long ago that Knight's was one of the few paranormal romance series out there - unlike today when there are so many series to choose from. Knight's book was more erotic than I'd remembered and I'll admit that the book hit pretty much all of my unfavorite sensual words and almost all of them in two back to back paragraphs, which likely is part of the reason that I didn't enjoy the book as much as other reviewers. Still it was pretty good and I found the supporting character who was a fae god disguised as a cat intriguing so Iam still tempted to check out the next book, Master of Smoke, where he takes centerstage.

In South Carolina, Greendale County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Logan MacRoy is excellent at several law enforcement specialties including arson investigator, forensic chemist and bomb expert. However, he conceals from his colleagues his roots as the offspring of King Arthur the vampire and Queen Guinevere the magi. A dormant vampire, Logan has not made the move to become bloodsucker.

Recently chemist Giada Shepherd has become a full majae. Arthur assigned her to keep Logan safe from a serial killer murdering the latent with the caveat not to engage in sexual activity with his offspring as that would trigger the vampiric conversion. Giada's only ally is the mystical ancient Smoke the cat who assists her, but he cannot keep her and Logan from being attracted to one another.

This is a terrific entry in the Mageverse urban fantasy series (see Master of the Night and Master of the Moon) as the mortal son of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere is under attack while recently promoted majae chemist Giada risks her life and her heart to protect him. Fans will enjoy this pairing as the romance is hot with sexual healing while an insidious killer goes after Logan using magically enhanced bombs with no concern about collateral damage yet also the overarching theme moves forward.

Harriet Klausner

A huge Angela Knight fan. Sorry to agree with 2 other post. Hot sex is great when you have chemistry in other areas. A happy ending could have had Logan adjusting to life as a vampire slowly. Build it into the series. Some more drama. Especially since he is A& G's only child. Too pat. Sorry Angela :( Will still buy your next book. Glad you won't ban the other reviewer. Me2 I hope.

I have the whole series, at least the books, I'm still ferreting out the short stories from various anthologies. I really like the series overall, it has some editing issues here & there, I remember 1 of the characters wearing stripped instead of striped boxers at the end of 1 book, good for a laugh but still. If you read the 'excerpts' from the next book at the end of the previous 1 & are waiting for whatever to happen in the book it's for don't hold your breath since I think I've only seen the excerpts be accurate maybe twice in all 8 books. I also think the book numbering is off, at least here on Amazon it is as far as I can tell.

I'm not great at writing reviews... so let me just say that I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I can't wait until the next installment.

Giada Shepherd is a brilliant chemist who also happens to be a relatively new Maja (aka immortal witch). With someone targeting and killing Latents - mortals with the ability to become witches or vampires - Giada is called upon by the legendary Arthur and Guinevere of Camelot to protect their mortal son, Logan MacRoy. Logan, an intelligent forensic chemist in his own right, works with the Greendale County Bomb Squad and if he knew the new chemist shadowing his work was a Maja he'd toss her out on her ear. So Giada is ordered not to reveal her true identity and to most definitely not sleep with Logan and trigger his Change. But with the unfulfilled desire between Logan and Giada becoming too much to bear and a deadly enemy determined to take out the pair, the truth is bound to come out. And when it does, it's not just the fate of Logan and Giada's hearts on the line.

Take a trip into the exciting Mageverse world in Master of Fire. I've been long awaiting a new Mageverse novel and Logan's story in particular, so I was thrilled when I got my hands on a copy of Master of Fire. I must say, I loved revisiting some of my favorite characters in the Mageverse series (Arthur and Guinevere in particular) and seeing new obstacles arise that are sure to continue in future books. It's nearly impossible to talk about some of the more thrilling points of Master of Fire without spoiling the book, so I'll avoid danger by saying that I'm sure other readers will finish the story as desperate as I to read the next book, Master of Smoke.

Where Master of Fire falls short for me is, quite sadly, the two protagonists. There's a spark missing from Logan, Giada, and their romance that is present in the earlier Mageverse novels. They did not come alive for me, nor did I become invested in their love story. I had such high hopes for Arthur and Guinevere's son that this book was a bit of a letdown in terms of characterization.

Master of Fire is the tenth story (sixth full-length book) in the Mageverse series, but Angela Knight provides enough information that it can be read as a standalone. The action sequences and the new troubles that arise in the Mageverse world were intriguing and the lead in to Master of Smoke left me eagerly awaiting its release.

Shayna

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed