Kristen Callihan – Firelight

The first book in the Darkest London series, published February 1, 2012.
Genre: historical paranormal romance.



London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.


This book has been recommended by lots of bloggers I follow lately, so I got tempted into buying it at once, as well as its sequel, Moonglow. After all, thanks to the beautiful cover, it was already on my wishlist. And I have to admit, I am disappointed in this book. It really did not grab me, nor did I particularly like the characters. In my eyes, they were not really a couple, just two people living together, sharing nothing. When Benjamin did not want to tell Miranda something, she just set out to find out on her own, putting herself in danger time and again. Yes, she is capable of defending herself when necessary, but why take the risks? Why did she need to know all his deep dark secrets?

Of course there were lots of aspects in the story that I did like, especially the last few chapters. But most of the book was slow and I kept skimming, which is a very bad sign for me. I would have loved more background on Miranda, and her hard life after her father loses his fortune, and she is forced to become a thief. She loathes her father who “sells” her to Benjamin, but she is glad to leave the house.
I feel really conflicted about this book, I liked parts, and disliked others. I do hope the next one will be more to my liking. Her sisters are very interesting.

The plot was original, I did like that, and the ending, but mostly the book just was not meant for me. Luckily, I am in the minority as most people really love it. So, don’t let my review deter you, go and enjoy the book.

6 stars.

© 2012 Reviews by Aurian