Breath of Fire

Starred review from November 28, 2016
Bouchet ramps up the excitement in her second Kingmaker Chronicles fantasy romance (after A Promise of Fire) with high-intensity passion; adrenaline-fueled battles of wits, magic, and might; a host of magical creatures; and enough politics and world-shaking to keep readers eager for the final volume. Catalia Fisa is the “impetuous,” “reckless,” and “terrifyingly selfless” Lost Princess, inheritor of the bloodline of the gods. She has become both the lover of Sintan warlord Griffin and a key piece of his strategy to unite the three realms of Thalyria under a single ruler. But her powerful, sadistic mother, Andromeda, stands in their way at every turn. Bouchet treads gently as she develops the larger-than-life aspects of her setting, and godly support and oracular wisdom build dramatic tension around the idea of fate without falling into deus ex machina. Griffin’s good intentions make his possessive alpha jealousy feel loving, Cat’s sharp tongue and personal insecurities balance her magical powers, and the emotional complexity of the relationships among their fellow fighters supports a feeling of camaraderie that makes the fight scenes really work. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.

Starred review from December 1, 2016
Cat and Griffin continue their quest to bring just leadership to the three realms but must navigate hostile landscapes, magical creatures, and even a gladiator-style to-the-death battle before they can overcome the malevolent ruler of Tarva to unite it with Sinta.Bouchet's sophomore title (A Promise of Fire, 2016), the second in a planned trilogy, is as consummately crafted as the first. Cat has found happiness with her love, Griffin--the warrior who overcame the vicious, greedy Sinta royalty, winning his family the right to rule the kingdom--yet has hidden her true identity as the Lost Princess of Fisa, one of the other two realms of Thalyria. But Cat is more than a princess or warrior; more even than the legendary Kingmaker foretold in prophecies. In fact, as the blood heir to Fisa, she is a demigoddess. In Griffin's mind she is the key to bringing the three realms together under their combined rule. In her mind, she's the "harbinger of the end. Destroyer of realms." Cat blames herself for the deaths of her siblings and is unable to see herself as a hero in any way, but when Griffin and his small band of warriors decide to take her advice and travel to find a magical race of creatures to help protect their borders, she refuses to stay behind. The quest leads them to the Chaos Wizard, a world of snow and ice, a maze navigated with magic thread, a classic riddle, and a battle with a Cyclops--with unexpected allies and a few jaw-dropping moments of true deus ex machina that make it clear Cat has some extraordinarily powerful friends in high places and that it looks like the gods are smiling on Cat and Griffin's plans for a new world order. With breathtaking storytelling, high-octane action and adventure, intense romance, and threads to ancient Greek mythology that both ground the worldbuilding and spin it in new, imaginative directions, Bouchet sets the bar for high-concept fantasy romance. Simply brilliant.

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Starred review from December 1, 2016
As Bouchet picks up the Kingmaker Chronicles from where A Promise of Fire (2016) ends, Cat's worst fears are coming true. The secrets she has worked so hard to keep are out, and so is her true identity as second-in-line for the Fisian throne. When Griffin, her rock-steady lover, finds out that she is the missing princess, he does not handle the truth well at all. Luckily for Cat, he loves her despite her family history and understands her continued reluctance to let people get close. The high-fantasy aspects and mythology of Bouchet's tale take center stage for most of the book, and her world-building reaches new heights as Griffin and Cat find themselves in an epic battle to take over and unite the realms with their elite Beta Team. As pieces of Cat's history are revealed, she becomes more than a badass warrior; she becomes real, that is, honest and flawed. Though she is as snarky as ever, and Griffin remains patient and protective, together they are sexy as hell, romantic, and adorable. Readers familiar with the first book will get the most out of this page-turning addition to the series, and fans will be eager for book three of the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)