Souls of Fire, Book 1
Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Keri Arthur comes a brand new series featuring heroine Emberly Pearson—a phoenix capable of taking on human form, and cursed with the ability to foresee death…
Emberly has spent a good number of her many lives trying to save humans. So when her prophetic dreams reveal the death of Sam, a man she once loved, she does everything in her power to prevent that from happening. But in saving his life, she gets more than she bargained for.
Sam is working undercover for the Paranormal Investigations Team, and those who are trying to murder him are actually humans infected by a plague-like virus, the Crimson Death—a by-product of a failed government experiment that attempted to identify the enzymes that make vampires immortal. Now, all those infected must be eliminated.
But when Emberly’s boss is murdered and his irreplaceable research stolen, she needs to find the guilty party before she goes down in flames…
Review: I love Keri Arthur and I gradually discover each of the books she has written throughout the years. But when the author returned with a new series and after seeing lot of positive reviews about this first volume, I was really curious to find out more about it. So I took the book as soon as I got the opportunity and I have to say I’m very glad about it.
Emberly is a phoenix … Yes a phoenix! This is not a creature we have an opportunity to meet a lot in novels and I was really curious to see how Keri Arthur was going to bring us this new species. So of course, we have a story around them, they can relive, they are able to take different forms and are capable of great power. Oh yes, I loved finding out more about them and it was fascinating to understand what they could achieve. But they are not the only in the story because many species are present too. Yes because we have some faes, vampires, werewolves and humans with extraordinary abilities. Many characters to discover and to enjoy.
Emberly has a vision at the beginning of the story, showing the man she loved and for whom she has feelings, being killed. She knows that intervening will place fate against her, but she can not let this man, Sam, dying. But by saving it, she will incur the wrath of a large number of characters who do not really have her welfare in mind. But besides that, the teacher she was attended is found murdered and everyone thinks she will help them to recover his researches. But while Sam is in charge of the investigation and that some creatures suffering from a strange virus appear everywhere, Emberly will have to team up with a young fae she meets, against the Sam’s advice and decisions. Oh yes, because the young woman is determined to not let him dictate her choices while he broke her heart in the past and if looking for answers by herself can help her, she will do that! But this does not change the wrath of Sam against her when she is in the middle of his way and he won’t hesitate to let her know that.
Strong tension between the two characters and some points made me think of the other series of the author but it was a pleasure to see all these ideas. Sam is a changed man since the last time that Emberly saw him and it’s true that I was very curious to find out what had happened to him and what he was hiding. I hope that we’ll get the chance soon afterwards to learn his secrets because I am sure that we will see him again, given the turn of the events. It’s pretty sad to see Emberly and her relationships in this novel. It is well known that Sam is the man she loves but her life is cursed and love is not easy for her species. We see that she suffers and it’s true that it made me quite sad. But other characters take place in our heart as Rory, the Emberly’s companion who is always there for her and who will do anything to help her or even the mysterious fae who is more than he seems to be and who’ll eventually becomes very important in the story.
It was in any case, as you guessed it, it’s a good discovery for me and I’m very curious to read the second book to see where the story is going.
Jennifer Bielman @ Bad Bird Reads
Oh yes, this book is on my TBR for sure!!!! Sounds so awesome!
Melliane
It is a great story!
blodeuedd
I need to check how many books she really has got
Melliane
many lol, haven’t read them all yet but many many
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
Wow, I haven’t read a book with a phoenix as a main character before and that would definitely be interesting! Thanks for the review!
Melliane
right? It’s so intriguing to have something different like that.
Celine
How cool that she’s a phoenix! This book sounds very interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by the author. Hope you enjoy the second book just as much!
Melliane
I agree I love the idea. Me too, but I’ll have to wait a little bit for that.
Tracy Terry
Somewhat tired of vampires, werewolves and, yes, even witches BUT a phoenix? Now this I have to read
Melliane
it’s always awesome to find new kind of characters.
kimbacaffeinate
A phoenix..that is awesome! I love how intense this sounds, you are killing me with the book recs this week. Yeah I added this to my wishlist
Melliane
lol I’m sorry. I hope you’ll like it if you try it.
kindlemom1
I have this one my wishlist! I love that you are loving this author so much. I can’t wait to try her work.
Melliane
yes she writes some wonderful stories.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I’m not really familiar with Keri Arthur yet, Melliane, but you definitely got me very curious about this new series! Especially because the main character is a phoenix, and because you enjoyed it so much.
Great review 🙂
Have a terrific Tuesday and happy reading.
Melliane
yes this change is really interersting. thank you!
Emma @ Never Judge a Book
I bought this book ages ago and there was something about this book with the mixture of paranormal creatures that has me hooked. Though whilst I love UF fantasy books, I haven’t read very many of Keri’s but what I have read, I’ve very much enjoyed. Great review, Mellaine! 🙂
Melliane
yes the mix is great, I always love that. But well I’m a huge fan of a good UF book.
Carole Rae
Ooooo! So cool! I’ve never read about a phoenix. Well, it was mentioned in the harry potter books, but a book ABOUT a phoenix. Neat!
Melliane
well it’s different than in the HP books but it’s fun.
Molly Mortensen
I’ve owned this book for a while, but haven’t gotten to it. I love the idea of a phoenix main character. The mystery part of this book sounds well done too. I wish the romance had been more happy, but maybe she’s saving that for later books. I’m glad that you liked it. I’ll have to read it sooner rather than later.
Melliane
Yes me too. Maybe. I hope you’ll like it as well. I’m curious.
Heidi
I love the sound of the Phoenix. I keep meaning to try something by her, but nothing is grabbing me until now. I think this might be the one to try. Thanks so much for your recommendation.
Melliane
I’m g lad if this one can make you try her. It’s a good one and I hope you’ll like it if you try it.
Melissa (Books and Things)
I’m glad you liked this one. I want to read it for the phoenix angle. I love that and it just seems so original. Brilly review!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Oh this one looks and sounds so good! 🙂 Thank you!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Sounds very good! As much as I’ve seen this book around on other blogs, I had no idea until now that it’s about a phoenix. I think that’s so great, we always see books about dragons who shapeshift into people, it’s time we get the same treatment with phoenixes too.
Melliane
right? it’s so fun and interesting! I agree! It can become one for my faves.
LilyElement
Glad to see you enjoyed it. I’ve been dying to read it, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Melliane
I hope you’ll be able soon.
Lola @ Hit or Miss Books
Wow, that’s original – a Pheonix! And, vampires? I never would have guessed! Color me intrigued! Wonderful review, Melly 🙂
Melliane
yeah many things in this one.
Faye M.
Girl, the fact that the MC is a phoenix is already making my insides tremble. I LOVE PHOENIXES! I adore them even more than dragons, really. They’re pretty and very immaculate. I am so getting this!
Faye at The Social Potato
Melliane
lol I love you enthousiams!
kim { Book Swoon }
Yay!! I’m so glad this was a great read for you as well Melliana. I’ve enjoyed Keri Arthur’s books before, so I couldn’t resist trying this new series. Didn’t you just love the mythology behind her being a Phoenix? I can’t wait to see where she takes this series. And the romance … hot ; )
Melliane
oh yes everything was so interesting! I really enjoy the whole thing and I can’t wait for more.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Oh how neat! I don’t think I’ve ever read a Phoenix before! I love when authors bring in new para-beings like that. Thanks for the heads up!
Kirsty-Marie
I still haven’t read any of hers, and nope, phoenix’s aren’t ones you come across a lot, pretty unique. 🙂
Angela @ Angel's Guilty Pleasures
Oh I need to try this one out this year. When I saw this new series coming out by Keri Arthur & that Cover (WOW) I had to add it to my TBR. Thank you for the great review!