There are pre-order incentives if you order Beyond Ember & Hope now, and this book one is on sale for only $0.99 until release day when the trilogy is complete!
Through Fire and Ruin is the first book in authors Jennifer Becker’s and Alice Karpiel’s new adult fantasy romance series. This book is a slow-burn romance novel with multiple POVs throughout the storyline. You’re going to meet some interesting characters and others who will try your patience, but this is just the beginning of this series.
Through Fire and Ruin has an interesting beginning that draws readers in rather quickly. Fae are known to humans, but thanks to a treaty there can be no crossing over of the two into the other’s world. Fae are “locked” into their world and humans are “locked” into Earth. There is a portal that bridges both worlds, but crossing over is something that no one survives. Well, those who belong to their specific worlds. But what if you were something more?
This division of the worlds seemed like a good thing, especially when you reflect on the fact that humans were enslaved to the fae in Liraen. However, when a plague begins killing humans and no cure in sight through the human scientists what if their very salvation lies in the land of the fae? Only one way to find out, and it won’t be an easy journey.
Lora is one of the characters that will be focused on in this book. She’s been living her life as best that she can with the fear of the plague running rampant. No one knows how it spreads, but if you’re expecting extreme precautions to be utilized you’ll be disappointed. It’s nice that there aren’t any extreme precautions being taken because it would definitely throw a kink in the story.
Lora is written as an “average human.” When we say this we mean that she’s living her life, helping out here and there at home. The plague is there in the back of her mind, but until it strikes close to home, she has little interest in pursuing a path of finding some form of help. But with a family member coming down with the sickness she’s prompted to take action. Not necessarily for the greater good of the world as a whole, but primarily for the family member in need.
One interesting aspect of this book is that Lora is part fae and she’s aware of this fact. In most fantasy novels you’ll find that the character has no idea of this other part of themselves, but Lora knows about it and will use it to her advantage. Which is a good thing otherwise this would be a rather short story. LOL!
While we have Lora on Earth and about to cross over into Liraen, the authors introduce readers to Amira who is a princess in one of the kingdoms of Liraen. Amira is the exact opposite of Lora. As you read this book you’ll learn that Lora seems to be a moderately tempered young woman, but the more you learn about her the more you’ll see that she is a rather temperamental individual.
Not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing, but for this reader...she pushed more than a few buttons. The constant demands for answers, refusing to have any ounce of trust in Eyden, the fae trader she meets, and leans towards being highly argumentative. You’d think that in a world where you have to hide what you are, you’d exercise more caution than she does. We get it, she wants a cure to help her family, but 1) getting caught and captured and 2) alienating one of few people willing to take a risk to help you...aren’t smart.
Amira falls on the opposite end of the spectrum of Lora. Amira reads almost like a human version of Fluttershy. LOL! (I’ve been watching a lot of MLP with my daughter, and it feels like it fits her perfectly.) Amira is yet another challenging character who gets placed in the spotlight of this book and series. Amira has experienced trauma in her life, and the deeper the story goes the more you will learn about her and what she’s been through.
Readers should be forewarned that there are some abuse elements in this book and potentially the series as we celebrate the release of Beyond Ember and Hope which will be available September 14th. Amira has a rather unhealthy relationship with her brother, and we all breathe a sigh of relief when he exits the story here and there. Don’t hope for or expect Amira to ever really stand up to him. Can’t say for sure she’s done so in the past and paid the cost, but it doesn’t seem like something she’ll ever do. We just wish that she wasn’t such a frail character. It gets exhausting to read how “sensitive” she is to so many things.
When it comes to the pacing of this novel you’ll find that it’s slow to moderate at best. Through Fire and Ruin is told through third person perspective throughout this book. The majority of the story goes back and forth between Lora and Amira as they both struggle to stay out of danger. It’s no easy thing for either woman.
There are interesting plot twists scattered throughout the novel, but we recommend patience as the personality of the characters seems to be the dominant focus of it all. You’ll learn about a king, looking to be high king, who will potentially be the downfall of all if he wins the upcoming contest. We would have liked to focus more on that, but it’s not viewed as a primary element of the storyline.
Hate cliffhangers? Well, it’s okay, because books two and three are available or will soon be! So, while you’re waiting for book three, you can grab book two and find out what happens next. It’s a mild cliffhanger honestly, so even those who hate cliffhangers shouldn’t complain too much. LOL! But it will be one that honestly makes sense in how book one comes to a close.
The romance is slow-burn, and the drama is also more on the slow-burn side, but Through Fire and Ruin does have some good elements. We just wanted the two FMCs to be more tempered, and more balanced. As they are written it’s one extreme to the other almost. It will be interesting to see where things go from here, and how long certain secrets will remain locked away.
Be sure to grab your copy of book three on September 14th and find out how it all ends for Lora, Amira and those they have come to care about!
4 out of 5 stars
Through Fire And Ruin
Publication Date: May 2022
Genre: NA Fantasy Romance
Slow burn
Sizzling banter
Enemies-to-lovers
Reluctant allies
Masquerade ball
Forced proximity
One bed
He fell harder
LGBTQ+ characters
Multiple POVs & romances
Fae, witches, badass humans
Thrilling plot twists
Corrupt politics
Some lies are ruin
For centuries, humans have been at the mercy of the fae. With the border between Earth and Liraen spelled shut, humans have no desire to entangle themselves with the fae world again. But what if they are humanity's only hope?
LORA has been warned of the fae her entire life. Yet when a deadly virus sweeps Earth, Lora risks everything to find a cure. Spinning the perfect lie, she makes a deal with Eyden, a mysterious fae trader. As Lora struggles to keep the promises she has made to both her family and Eyden, she is forced to dig deeper into the twisted world of Liraen - her web of lies unravelling.
AMIRA has spent years trapped by her brother in her childhood palace. Her engagement to the soon-to-be High King of Liraen is her only hope for the freedom she has been longing for. As the future Queen, she seeks to finally leave her painful past behind. But she soon discovers that the palace holds dark secrets - bringing up memories Amira had long since tried to erase.
As power games are woven, promises are broken, and desperate lies are revealed, Lora and Amira both find themselves at crossroads. Will they risk it all and face ruin?
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