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Fire Blessed

Fire Blessed

The Blessings of Myrillia Book 2
by Crystin Goodwin
Young Adult - Fantasy - General
504 Pages
Reviewed on 01/20/2016
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Crystin Goodwin has been an avid reader since she was in the second grade, when she was grounded and her mother forced her to read the first book of The Little House on the Prairie series. Immediately hooked, she devoured countless innocent novels until she came across the books of Anne McCaffrey when she was sixteen. Enchanted by the fact that one author could create so many rich, diverse worlds, she immediately decided that her dream would be to become an author.
Flash forward fourteen years.
Despite having multiple ideas and plenty of ‘reference material’, she was a victim of procrastination. Until she discovered National Novel Writing Month—and her personal cheerleader, Murph. Working as a Shift Supervisor at Starbucks, Crystin penned her first novel in 2013 and the rest, they say, is history.
Now happily living her dream, she lives with her British-American husband and spoiled cat, Kira, in Austin, TX.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading the great new work of fantasy by author Crystin Goodwin, Fire Blessed, the second book in The Blessings of Myrillia series. Follow the continuing story of our protagonist, Marius Caleo, one of the Favored, popular, wealthy and having everything he could ever want. Everything, that is, except for independence and the power he desires. As Marius strives for more and more, he's introduced to the Inner Council. And when they offer him an assignment that he believes will lead him down the path to all he wishes for, it's a quest he can't refuse. But is this adventure really what Marius thinks it is? You'll need to read the book to find out?

I so enjoyed Fire Blessed. This book grabbed me from the very start and didn't let go until the very last page. Author Crystin Goodwin has done a fantastic job at creating complex characters that her readers will be able to connect with and relate to, even in the fantasy environment, which isn't always an easy thing to do. Her world creation abilities are simply second to none, and her pacing and timing in this book are spot on. Any reader who loves a great book in the fantasy genre should absolutely read this book. I highly recommend Fire Blessed. I can't wait to read more in this extremely entertaining series, and I hope that author Crystin Goodwin is already hard at work on the third book right now!

Michael Murphy

Tracy, I couldn't agree more! I've been reading her work since the first book in the series, UnBlessed. Her characters are intriguing. She has developed the details of her world, and this shows in some of the details you can find in both books. She also has quite a knack for bombs and cliffhangers that keep you reading.

Her books are just plain hard to put down. They have a prominent place on my bookshelf (and in my Kindle).

Jessie

Last fall I read UnBlessed by Crystin Goodwin and, while I recommend it. I refused to tell you about it.
( http://behindthewillows.com/2014/09/17/unblessed-by-crystin-goodwin/ )

I didn’t want to ruin the experience.

Now I have read the sequel, Fire Blessed, and I’m still not telling.

I can’t tell you how it was that the author took a story that sucked me in so completely, expanded it and made the next installment even better without spoiling it for you.

I can’t give away just how the characters, that I wished had more substance in the first book, are fleshed out in this one. (But now there are characters of such complexity that I can’t decide if I love them or hate them.)

I can’t hint at the scheming going on behind the scenes. If you haven’t read UnBlessed you must come to it at it’s proper time. (But oh the scheming!)

And I can’t possibly tell you exactly how it leaves you at the end. (But I’m ready for book three!)

What can I tell you?

I can tell you that I’d absolutely recommend that you read it for yourself!

Would I recommend it? Start with UnBlessed (or it just wouldn’t be right) and have this one at hand for as soon as you reach the last page!

Laura Jo

My kids and I love the characters and themes in this series. The idea of living out your blessing is so important! UNBLESSED is a gem and I have recommended it to many , many of my friends. (I even read Chapter 1 of Unblessed to my hairdresser as my hair was getting colored). FIREBLESSED introduces more depth of the Marius character, and brings Renelle, who is charming! My concern with book two is its scope. So many details. So many passages of time. So many main characters. I wanted it to be broken into 2 novels- books 3 and 4- so that I could piece it and predict it as I read it. I AM happy for the cliff hanger at the books' end and look forward to the "conclusion". Keep Writing, CG!!!

Julie Bergley

I love that this book gives marius' history, not to mention shows us what takes place after Kisara leaves to stay with the Transeatur, to end further along than unblessed. I got so invested in Marius and Renelle. She brings out the best in him.

I cannot wait for book three!

Michael Murphy

The second story in the series by Goodwin. If you liked UnBlessed, you'll LOVE this one! She takes the characters she introduced in UnBlessed, and adds new ones. Everything you thought you knew about Myrillia gets turned upside down as the plot takes unexpected twists and turns every step of the way. Goodwin writes in such a way as to lead the reader deeper and deeper into the intrigue of her world, and constantly leaves them wanting to see what's on the next page. Her character development will leave the reader in love with at least one of the players in this volume. This is one of the best mixes of action, intrigue, emotion, duplicity, and romance that I have come across. There is something for everyone in here (several somethings for most people, in fact). Many will see the parallels that Goodwin draws between our world and hers, some will see themselves in one of her characters, and all will see just a plain old, fun story to read.

The only disappointing thing I found about this book was that it ends! I already want more, and Goodwin clearly has more to tell us. This author is definitely a "must watch" for anyone who craves a good story that they can sink in to.

I recommend starting this book when you have a few days to just read, because you will have a difficult time putting it down once you start. Goodwin has created a world where the reader gets drawn in, wanting to see and know more and more about the people and places as they read on.

James

Since finishing Harry Potter and the Stormbringer series, my life felt lacking. What could possibly replace such great books? I'm sure every reader can relate to the sad feels of turning the last page of a book that consumed your life. Crystin's Blessed series can fill this void... and she needs to write the sequel before I go crazy!

If you haven't read the first, go buy Unblessed. It's a genuinely interesting take on magic and fantasy. Basically, every teenager of age receives an elemental blessing. The entire hierarchy of her world revolves around which blessings are said to be the rarest. So if you're unblessed, you're pretty much screwed. This more or less parallels our own world; it's brilliant commentary on racism and discrimination.

However, it is never shoved down your throat. There is more than enough love to satiate the mildest of temperaments. I'd rate this book E for everyone as it's perfectly balanced. The character development is sharp. The dialogue is true to life. The narrative is unpredictable. The mood is tense. You'll find yourself turning pages with significant anxiety.

Just buy the damn book. You can thank me later.

Sharon

Goodwin blew me away once again with this book. I loved how she started the timeline pre-UnBlessed and then wove the story into what we already thought we knew. Great read! Please tell me the next one comes out tomorrow...

Olivia

Love this book! When I first started it I was a little disappointed that it wasn't picking up where the first book left off, but im so glad it didn't! This book introduces some of my favorite characters in the whole series and really fleshes out what we already know. If you liked the first book, you will love the second.

Robyn

Crystin has worked her magic again. She writes with such emotion that I feel fear and anticipation right along with characters. Even the parts covered in UnBlessed were new and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat for 500 pages. I couldn't get enough and I was sad to see it end.

KanaD

A perfect continuation to the first book. The plot keeps you wanting more and wondering who you can and cannot trust. The only downside is that now I have to wait for book three.

Christina Anthony

I received a copy through a Goodreads giveaway.
I was fully encapsulated by this story. I was not able to put the book down whenever I could pick it up. The characters were well-written, and the plot had depth that must have required extensive planning. I had not read the first book in the series, but I was able to fully understand the story. I look forward to reading more by Crystin Goodwin.