Soul of Fire (Magical British Empire) [Kindle Edition]

Sarah A. Hoyt (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Filled with adventure and danger, intrigue and romance, this thrilling new fantasy from Sarah Hoyt follows the quest for a rare treasure—by a man of rare breed—in a magical Victorian British Empire that never was….

British gentleman and were-dragon Peter Farewell has embarked on a daunting task: to recover the Soul of Fire, a magical ruby said to lie at the heart of British-controlled India. But finding one stone in the heart of a land simmering on the cusp of rebellion, and rife with hostile magics, seems an impossible task—until Peter saves the life of a young virgin fleeing a distasteful arranged marriage. For unknown to Sofie Warington, the flawed gem that is all that is left of her dowry is the very one Peter has been seeking. And if Peter can keep her safe from the sinister factions desperate to gain control of both Sofie and her dowry, he will find more than a jewel; he will find his heart’s destiny.


From the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Sarah Hoyt was born in Portugal during the Cuban Missile Crisis. To make life more interesting, she was born severely premature, at the height of winter in an unheated stone house. She survived, and is glad to report that she's still surviving. She now lives in Colorado with one husband, two children and four cats. She likes dogs but can't afford to adopt eight of them.

She writes science fiction and fantasy for a living. She has published books from her Shifter series (Draw One in the Dark), her Musketeers Mysteries series as Sarah D'Almeida (Death of a Musketeer, The Musketeer's Seamstress) and her Shakespearean Fantasy series (Ill Met by Moonlight). She is currently working on her Magical British Empire series, which includes Heart of Light, Soul of Fire and Heart and Soul, to be published by Bantam Spectra.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 706 KB
• Print Length: 466 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0553589679
• Publisher: Spectra (July 29, 2008)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0017SWQP6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,006 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

I was born in Portugal far more years ago than I like to admit to, in a -- then very small -- place called Granja (lugar da Granja -- lugar possibly transtating roughly as hamlet -- but literally translating as "place") in the freguesia (allegiance/fiefdom) of Aguas-Santas (Holy Waters) in the Conselho (council) of Maia in the district of Porto.

All those designations are changed now, but as I like to tell people I grew up somewhere between Elizabethan England and Victorian England with just a little of the twentieth century thrown in.

This might be exaggerating -- not much -- but the truth is that I did go to a village school and learn to write with a quill pen. Though I used ballpoint pens at home. I penned my first "novel" with ballpoint at around the age of six. And since it was pretty easy -- all twenty pages of Enid Blyton rip-off -- I abandoned what I (by then) suspected was an unattainable aspiration of becoming an angel when I grew up. I decided instead to be a novelist.

Once this was decided, of course, it didn't take all that long at all. Only some... cough... twenty years, during which I acquired a degree from the University of Porto (where we didn't use quill pens), found that employment for English majors was at best scant, moved to the US, changed my name, got married, worked at a variety of jobs from multilingual translator to retail clerk, had two kids and a varying and scary number of cats and read far more than is good for any human being.

So, now I live in Colorado with my husband, two teen sons who are both taller and stronger -- and far more handsome -- than I and four indoor cats, plus a variety of Not-Our-Cats(tm) who beg food at the kitchen door and for whom we provide facilities summer and winter. But who are not... cough... our cats. Ever.

I've been telling lies for fun and profit since 1994 (I did it for free long before that.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good sequel to heart of light, December 11, 2008

By 

guitarchick24 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soul of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

After an intriguing first book in this trilogy, Sarah Hoyt delivers with the second book, "Soul of Fire."

This book takes place about six months after the events of "Heart of Light." Peter Farewell, the were-dragon we were introduced to in the first book, takes center stage in this book, as he is entrusted with the mission of finding the second jewel (Soul of Fire) and using it to find his friend Nigel, so Nigel can complete their goal of protecting the jewels. While in India fruitlessly searching for Soul of Fire, he encounters Sofie Warington, a young girl trying to escape an arranged marriage. Their adventures together lead Peter to what he seeks... and more.

It's historical fantasy, and it's fun. Hoyt throws in fun comments to add "realism" to her novel, like how Anne Boleyn was beheaded for not disclosing to the English king that she was a were-rabbit. The overall plot is great, and while we know the outcome, you definitely enjoy the story leading up to it.

I take one star off for a plot element she left hanging, though. Throughout the story, it's imperative that Sofie escapes the were-tigers, and so much of the action leads you to think that it's important (like when William and his Indian sepoy spy on the Kingdom of the Tigers). I kept thinking that William's visions were of an upcoming were-tiger attack. However, when the main characters converge on Meerut and William's visions come true, it has nothing to do with the Kingdom of the Tigers. I found myself flipping back and wondering when the were-tigers were going to attack or if there was going to be a big showdown between Peter and the tiger king.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a great book, and if you've been following this series you're going to enjoy it. But I don't know why Hoyt built up to such a big plot element and then just... abandoned it. Other than that, it's totally worth reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hoyt Delivers Again, September 21, 2008

By 

Amanda Green (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

In this second installment of her Magical British Empire Series, Sarah A. Hoyt delivers a novel that satisfies on so many levels. For those who enjoy alternate history, this book -- as well as Heart of Light, the first book of the series -- is set in a Victorian world where magic is a common occurrence. Shape-shifting is one of those secrets to be kept firmly locked in the closet or face the Queen's werehunters and certain death. Still, historical events are recognizable as is the Victorian society with all its benefits and prejudices.

Set against this backdrop, Hoyt builds characters the reader cares about and a plot with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages and wanting more. It's a nice change of pace to have characters who are flawed and who struggle to overcome their problems, not wallow in them. It's fun to watch the characters develop and grow over the course of the book, watching them make human mistakes and not be "Mary Sues" time and time again.

All in all, if you love a good tale, or a good romance, or even just an alternate history, this is the book for you. For me, I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see how Mrs. Hoyt ties up the plot lines she's purposefully left hanging.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really great read, November 19, 2008

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

What a great read! 'Heart of Light', the previous book to this one, was enjoyable but I had some reservations about it (for me, the heroine ended up with the wrong man, which doesn't make for an entirely satisfying book). 'Soul of Fire' is the next book in the series and I found it even better, an excellent read.

Set in a slightly alternate history where magic, flying carpets and were-creatures are part of normal life, but where historical events that we know have still taken place (perhaps for different reasons), the story is set in British India under the reign of Queen Victoria. Our hero is Peter Farewell, a were-dragon, whom we met in 'Heart of Light'. Peter is a lonely man entrusted with the task of finding the jewel 'Soul of Fire', having already assisted in the recovery of 'Heart of Light'.

Peter has been searching India for the jewel for six months without success. However when his chivalrous nature requires him to rescue a maiden in distress he finds himself plunged into events as various people try to get their hands on the 'Soul of Fire' which apparently belongs to the maiden, Sofie Warington. Sofie is trying to escape an enforced marriage to a were-tiger but it becomes clear that the were-tigers want her for more nefarious reasons than marriage. Can Peter keep her safe, despite the dangerous nature of his dragon side? Is there more to Sofie's maidservant and her companions than Sofie realises?

The story is told from several viewpoints, including a slightly separate plot thread narrated by a British officer who is trying to avoid a repeat of the 1857 Sepoy rebellion as well as discovering some truths about himself. The plot is good but what is particularly well-written is the characterisation. Peter Farewell is excellently portrayed and we feel, alongside him, his loneliness and fears about his were nature. Sofie is an appealing character too, young and sometimes foolish but overall with a great heart and bravery. The setting in India, even the slightly magical India of this fantasy, was also convincing, even if the British characters very occasionally slipped into American dialogue. Although it appears the series will continue this book did draw to a satisfactory close and I am certainly looking forward to the next story in this series which appears to be improving as it continues.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008