Title: Fireblood
Author: Trisha Wolfe
Series: Standalone
Published: December 17th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press
Genres: YA, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance
Source: eArc
To save a kingdom, Zara must choose between a prince who could be the answer and a rising rebellion that threatens to take control.
When Zara Dane is chosen to marry Prince Sebastian Hart, son of the man who ordered her father’s capture, Zara knows she must fight to save everything she loves from ruin.
Being betrothed to the prince means a life trapped behind the towering stone walls of the Camelot-forged realm. Under the watchful eye of the prince's first knight, Sir Devlan Capra, changing her future becomes difficult.
When an unlikely rebel reveals the truth about the deadly secrets that fuel King Hart’s twisted world, Zara’s path to rescue her father becomes clouded by deception. The Rebels clear her path by forcing Zara’s hand with an ultimatum: sway Prince Sebastian to join the Rebels, convincing him of his father’s evil nature, or they will take him out.
But Zara is uncertain about a future under the Rebels’ command and where the prince’s heart truly lies. She must decide who to trust, what to believe, and what she’s truly fighting for before the king destroys all of Karm, including her heart.
I say it over and over again but I love Trisha’s writing. Fireblood was no exception.
I loved the tie-in to the Arthurian legends. Of course there are so many different versions but this book reminded me a bit of the movie Camelot. If you’ve never seen it, it’s an oldie but goodie. To sum it up. Arthur(Sebastian) loves Guinevere (Zara) who loves Lancelot (Devlan). Lancelot and Arthur were tight until what Arthur considered ultimate betrayal. In order to keep order and uphold his rule he sacrifices Guinevere but there is that thought that he did it knowing Lancelot would save her. Crazy so off course. I could see a lot of similarities that those basic roots in the this story. Not exactly the same but I like how the spirit of it was infused in there. I also thought it was completely interesting that this is a dystopian world. Nuclear war has mutated and destroyed the outside world and these people now live in a protected dome. King Hart however enamoured with the Arthurian Era makes everyone live by that standards. Were talking dressing and talking like it.
I always love Trish’s characters. Especially her female ones. They are always tough chicas who can handle themselves. Zara is no exception. Although she’s a little green in the beginning she develops into a more aware and skilled fighter. She learns that being impulsive is not always the best route and sometimes it takes a little patience for your situation to change.
Trish is also great at creating sexual tension. I was like damn Zara just grab and kiss him already!!!
I love an understated villain. The one that you count out until they manage to surprise you. King Hart loomed and intimidated but how threatening was he really. What about his son Sebastian. Is he good, bad, hot. I don’t know!! I love that he stays intriguing throughout the majority of the book. What’s really going on inside his head.
Hello Devlan will you be my hunky knight in shining armor. I like Devlan because he has that pensive, strong, been to hell and back thing going for him. He also is sensible to Zara’s not always so sensible ideas. Plus he really seem to value his beliefs and his duty. Now what one considers their duty does not always coincide with what everyone else thinks it is.
This was a good dystopia in a way that made you almost forget that’s what it is. Which is the point of the world Hart has created. Not only that what Hart is protecting the people from is actually real. It’s not all sunshine and lollipops on the other side of the wall.