Review: Within the Flames

Lyssa is a dragon shifter who has been targeted for death by a super-evil and powerful witch, who can absorb the life energy of others. Eddie has been dispatched by Dirk & Steele (an agency designed to help supernaturals in need) --to find her and protect her.

Eddie is human, but he generates fire. He has trouble controlling himself --and when you pair that with his difficult past, he hasn't allowed anyone to get close. Lyssa is in the same boat. She's been hiding from that witch her entire life and she's mourned the traumatic deaths of her parents on her own. When Eddie and Lyssa meet, they connect instantly. It's difficult for them to let each other in, but it's also inevitable. As the story progresses, we see them come together --while facing off with the witch and her evil minions.

There's a lot of action and several revelations unveiled over the course of the book. Lyssa has some pretty grim secrets and she has good reasons to withhold her trust. The romance that develops between her and Eddie is sweet and gentle. There's sex eventually, but theirs isn't a blinding and passionate joining. They are each the salve to the other's soul.

This is book 11 in the Dirk & Steele series, but as someone new to these books, I can tell you it was easy to jump right in. The world building was easy to understand and I felt like we knew everything we needed to about the secondary characters.

It was good. I think I would have enjoyed a bit more passion in the relationship between Eddie and Lyssa, but it just wasn't that kind of romance. I found myself very interested in the fierce gargoyle Lannes, and tempted to go dig up his book. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough that I'll check out other installments in the series. Almost 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Within the Flames

by Marjorie Liu

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Publisher: Avon