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This Fiery Splendor
The exquisitly beautiful daughter of an English missionary, Annalise Devon had a simple life until her dying Father passed her destiny into the capable hands of the Queen's Colonel, Derek Clavell. Bold as brass, as immovable as the Kashmir cliff, the dashing aristocrat seemed to have everything a man could want: a fortune in India, a future in England, and a flame-haired fiancee who satisfied his sensual needs. Then he met young Annalise and discovered a passion beyond pleasure, a fire raging beyond his or her control. As her guardian, his only choice was to send her away. And so Annalise found herself alone once more, this time forging her independence from the searing memories of Derek's touch.
But love, once ignited is not easily extinguished. As India's quest for Independence engulfed the land, Derek would follow a trail of English blood to Annalise's side. Together they would face a treacherous new world of vengeful enemies and duplicitous lovers....a world destined to bring them again and again, to both the brink of disaster and the dizzying, breathless heights of rapture.
But love, once ignited is not easily extinguished. As India's quest for Independence engulfed the land, Derek would follow a trail of English blood to Annalise's side. Together they would face a treacherous new world of vengeful enemies and duplicitous lovers....a world destined to bring them again and again, to both the brink of disaster and the dizzying, breathless heights of rapture.
361 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
130 people want to read
About the author
Christine Monson
7 books84 followersChristine Monson was born in 1946. Raised in a West Virginia coal camp, she read for escape, learning to coax the ordinary out of the extraordinary. She published her controversial debut novel, Stormfire, in 1984.
Lauded by some readers as lyrical and moving, and condemned by others as a violently immoral tale, Stormfire, a romance set during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, has gained a cult following since its release. After Stormfire’s publication, Monson continued combining high-angst historical romance with political conflict: Rangoon is set prior to the third Anglo-Burmese War, Surrender the Night breaks apart the main couple during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and A Flame Run Wild follows a weary Crusader. She published her last two novels, Golden Nights and This Fiery Splendor, in the early 90s.
Lauded by some readers as lyrical and moving, and condemned by others as a violently immoral tale, Stormfire, a romance set during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, has gained a cult following since its release. After Stormfire’s publication, Monson continued combining high-angst historical romance with political conflict: Rangoon is set prior to the third Anglo-Burmese War, Surrender the Night breaks apart the main couple during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and A Flame Run Wild follows a weary Crusader. She published her last two novels, Golden Nights and This Fiery Splendor, in the early 90s.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2022
Read: 4/5/22
2.7 stars
Disappointing 😞
The story started out so well. Derek becomes guardian of Annelise when her father dies. He takes her with him to England. In Sussex, he is reunited with the "love " of his life. Still horrible ill, Annelise nurses him back to health. Eventually, his feelings turn to Annelise and he can't choose between the two until it's too late.
Annelise has been in love with Derek since she first met him years ago in India. She knows the daughter of missionary could never marry a wealth Baron, so she flees back to India. Derek realizes too late that he's in love with Annelise. So he gives up his title and heritage to follow her back to India. Unfortunately, the 1857 Rebellion has now begun. The characters go from one massacre to another. The author does a great job capturing the heartbreak of it all.
Problems:
1. The h! She was so great in the beginning! She has such a calming soul and of course is beautiful. I found her to be mature, especially since she's only 17. She nurses Derek when he was recovering from a horrible injury. These two were perfect for each other. Then the author ruined everything! When Derek finally finds her in India she's engaged to another man. Derek is still the love of her life but she doesn't trust him and believes he would soon regret marrying her. Stupidly she marries the OM. Two days into the marriage, their train is attacked and her husband is killed. Derek rides to the rescue several times to save her life but no matter what he does she refuses to marry him. The " love him too much to marry" trope got old fast!! It ruined, an otherwise, great character.
2. All the English characters from the beginning of the book, just happen to end up in the same besieged city in India as the MC. Preposterous!!
3. The story ends so abruptly! Not even a epilogue ☹️
Good:
1. I got to learn about a part in history that was unknown to me. This book went from one destroyed city to another. I found myself Googling these cities and the Rebellion.
2. Derek was such a dashing hero and totally drool worthy
This book ended up frustrating me to the point I couldn't enjoy it. Such a shame!Though Derek could rescue me anytime!!
2.7 stars
Disappointing 😞
The story started out so well. Derek becomes guardian of Annelise when her father dies. He takes her with him to England. In Sussex, he is reunited with the "love " of his life. Still horrible ill, Annelise nurses him back to health. Eventually, his feelings turn to Annelise and he can't choose between the two until it's too late.
Annelise has been in love with Derek since she first met him years ago in India. She knows the daughter of missionary could never marry a wealth Baron, so she flees back to India. Derek realizes too late that he's in love with Annelise. So he gives up his title and heritage to follow her back to India. Unfortunately, the 1857 Rebellion has now begun. The characters go from one massacre to another. The author does a great job capturing the heartbreak of it all.
Problems:
1. The h! She was so great in the beginning! She has such a calming soul and of course is beautiful. I found her to be mature, especially since she's only 17. She nurses Derek when he was recovering from a horrible injury. These two were perfect for each other. Then the author ruined everything! When Derek finally finds her in India she's engaged to another man. Derek is still the love of her life but she doesn't trust him and believes he would soon regret marrying her. Stupidly she marries the OM. Two days into the marriage, their train is attacked and her husband is killed. Derek rides to the rescue several times to save her life but no matter what he does she refuses to marry him. The " love him too much to marry" trope got old fast!! It ruined, an otherwise, great character.
2. All the English characters from the beginning of the book, just happen to end up in the same besieged city in India as the MC. Preposterous!!
3. The story ends so abruptly! Not even a epilogue ☹️
Good:
1. I got to learn about a part in history that was unknown to me. This book went from one destroyed city to another. I found myself Googling these cities and the Rebellion.
2. Derek was such a dashing hero and totally drool worthy
This book ended up frustrating me to the point I couldn't enjoy it. Such a shame!Though Derek could rescue me anytime!!
February 12, 2012
Setting: Victorian England and India, specifically the Indian Rebellion of 1857
The protagonists: Annalise, 17 year old daughter of a missionary and a virgin, & Colonel Derek Clavell, 30 yr old heir to a baronetcy and NOT a virgin
Tropes: Guardian/ward, the Other Woman (OW), Other Men
Sensuality: R
Ok, before I begin, my position on the following bks:
Stormfire - didn't love it, didn't hate it. I read it over 20 yrs ago and could probably still quote passages from it but that is as much a tribute to how much room there was in my brain back then as to its memorability.
The Duke of Shadows - thought it was an uneven read but liked it enough to place on my Keeper Shelf. I am comparing it to TFS because - like TDOS - part of it is set in England, part in India during the 1857 rebellion . . . . and it also is an uneven read. Even more so.
TFS starts at a ball in India, where the h (probably the most self-assured teenage heroine since Skye O'Malley) is already in love with the H but alas, he confides to her that he is madly in love with a woman (OW) back in England, whom he plans to marry when he gets back. This is all the while he keeps a harem behind his bungalow and boinks every officer wife he sees in India.
The h's father keels over and the H is named the h's guardian. H takes h back to his estate in England where he slowly recovers from his war wounds. I thought the first 100 pages were really snoozy as the H dithers back and forth between the h and OW as if he was Bella caught between Team Edward and Team Jacob. When he is not whimpering from the excruciating headaches caused by his wounds, that is. It's been a while since I read such a pallid alpha. H eventually begins an affair with the h when OW breaks off their engagement.
However, H is still hung up on OW and forgets all about the h when he kisses OW at a ball and does off with her to the boathouse to fornicate. h sees all this at the ball and runs back to India. H realizes that it's the h he really loves and spends that next 6 months chasing h all over India, right into the Siege of Lucknow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of...).
This was Monson's last novel (published in 1991) and while it would not be classified as a Bodiceripper, it is still steeped in Old Skool sensibilities as evidenced by the presence of the batshit-crazy OW and the H's selfish mansluttiness. At times, her prose made me gag with its florid purpleness and at others, I thought it beautiful and moving. Fact is, noone talks like this in HRs anymore:
"You are lovely as the Song of Solomon. Even a king wearied and beleaguered by the harsh weight of his office might turn poet with such beauty before him. What must a battel-torn soldier feel when gifted with such sweetness." . . . . "Even if your body were dross instead of the poet's dream that it is, I would love you, for your heart and mind are as easily as fair as your form. What sweet genie brought you to me on that long-ago day when the monsoons have swept this land with rain like the tears of a goddess?"
"Soon," she whispered. "Come to me soon, for I hunger for you, my love. You have become the sun that makes radiant all the black and lonely night, as if you were a splendid star come to visit this midnight earth. . . . " (Pg. 228-229)
I liked the middle pages where the H/h were trying to survive against the uprising around them but the bk really jumped the shark in the last 60 pages when all the characters who were in England and wouldn't be caught DEAD in India (like OW), suddenly shows up in the middle of a siege. It turned into a farce and I no longer could ignore its many problems that's been bothering all along. Mainly, the terrible, inconsistent, contrived characterizations that are meant to serve the plot and little things like how the bk thinks a Baron and a Baronet are the same.
Content warning: violence (bullets flying, skulls beings slashed and smashed)
Grade: C+
The protagonists: Annalise, 17 year old daughter of a missionary and a virgin, & Colonel Derek Clavell, 30 yr old heir to a baronetcy and NOT a virgin
Tropes: Guardian/ward, the Other Woman (OW), Other Men
Sensuality: R
Ok, before I begin, my position on the following bks:
Stormfire - didn't love it, didn't hate it. I read it over 20 yrs ago and could probably still quote passages from it but that is as much a tribute to how much room there was in my brain back then as to its memorability.
The Duke of Shadows - thought it was an uneven read but liked it enough to place on my Keeper Shelf. I am comparing it to TFS because - like TDOS - part of it is set in England, part in India during the 1857 rebellion . . . . and it also is an uneven read. Even more so.
TFS starts at a ball in India, where the h (probably the most self-assured teenage heroine since Skye O'Malley) is already in love with the H but alas, he confides to her that he is madly in love with a woman (OW) back in England, whom he plans to marry when he gets back. This is all the while he keeps a harem behind his bungalow and boinks every officer wife he sees in India.
The h's father keels over and the H is named the h's guardian. H takes h back to his estate in England where he slowly recovers from his war wounds. I thought the first 100 pages were really snoozy as the H dithers back and forth between the h and OW as if he was Bella caught between Team Edward and Team Jacob. When he is not whimpering from the excruciating headaches caused by his wounds, that is. It's been a while since I read such a pallid alpha. H eventually begins an affair with the h when OW breaks off their engagement.
However, H is still hung up on OW and forgets all about the h when he kisses OW at a ball and does off with her to the boathouse to fornicate. h sees all this at the ball and runs back to India. H realizes that it's the h he really loves and spends that next 6 months chasing h all over India, right into the Siege of Lucknow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of...).
This was Monson's last novel (published in 1991) and while it would not be classified as a Bodiceripper, it is still steeped in Old Skool sensibilities as evidenced by the presence of the batshit-crazy OW and the H's selfish mansluttiness. At times, her prose made me gag with its florid purpleness and at others, I thought it beautiful and moving. Fact is, noone talks like this in HRs anymore:
"You are lovely as the Song of Solomon. Even a king wearied and beleaguered by the harsh weight of his office might turn poet with such beauty before him. What must a battel-torn soldier feel when gifted with such sweetness." . . . . "Even if your body were dross instead of the poet's dream that it is, I would love you, for your heart and mind are as easily as fair as your form. What sweet genie brought you to me on that long-ago day when the monsoons have swept this land with rain like the tears of a goddess?"
"Soon," she whispered. "Come to me soon, for I hunger for you, my love. You have become the sun that makes radiant all the black and lonely night, as if you were a splendid star come to visit this midnight earth. . . . " (Pg. 228-229)
I liked the middle pages where the H/h were trying to survive against the uprising around them but the bk really jumped the shark in the last 60 pages when all the characters who were in England and wouldn't be caught DEAD in India (like OW), suddenly shows up in the middle of a siege. It turned into a farce and I no longer could ignore its many problems that's been bothering all along. Mainly, the terrible, inconsistent, contrived characterizations that are meant to serve the plot and little things like how the bk thinks a Baron and a Baronet are the same.
Content warning: violence (bullets flying, skulls beings slashed and smashed)
Grade: C+
October 24, 2010
Since this author wrote the notorious Stormfire, I'm sure most of you will wonder if this book is like that book. Rest assured this book is pretty PC and tame. There are no rapes or abuse. There is a "other woman" but since the plot is based heavily around a love triangle this couldn't be helped. The hero however, never sleeps with this other woman while he's with the heroine.
I thought it was a decent read, better than what I've been reading lately.
I thought it was a decent read, better than what I've been reading lately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2015
An Exciting Victorian Romance set in India During the Rebellion of 1857
Christine Monson always does thorough research into the historical settings of her books and then serves up a great story. Such is This Fiery Splendor.
Annalise Devon was the daughter of a missionary to China where she was raised until her mother died. Then her father took her to India. It was there in that beautiful, mysterious land that she met and fell in love with Col. Derek Clavell, a wealthy aristocrat and an officer in the East India Company army. When her father suddenly dies, 17-year-old Annalise is made Derek’s ward by her father’s wishes. Then Derek is severely wounded in a battle at the Khyber Pass and must return to England.
In England, Annalise and Derek become lovers yet she knows he will never be hers. Not only does he have a beautiful fiancé, but he has just become his father’s heir to the title. She is just the poor daughter of a missionary. So she returns to India and finds a man who loves her…
Monson gives us some very exciting scenes as Derek pursues the woman he loves and he and Annalise are caught up in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, depicting the horror of the battles where civilians were killed along with the British and Sepoys. And in the midst of it, Derek’s fiancé shows up.
All the history is here, rich in detail. Great characters, well drawn and meaningful dialog. And more angst than you could want.
Highly recommended.
Christine Monson always does thorough research into the historical settings of her books and then serves up a great story. Such is This Fiery Splendor.
Annalise Devon was the daughter of a missionary to China where she was raised until her mother died. Then her father took her to India. It was there in that beautiful, mysterious land that she met and fell in love with Col. Derek Clavell, a wealthy aristocrat and an officer in the East India Company army. When her father suddenly dies, 17-year-old Annalise is made Derek’s ward by her father’s wishes. Then Derek is severely wounded in a battle at the Khyber Pass and must return to England.
In England, Annalise and Derek become lovers yet she knows he will never be hers. Not only does he have a beautiful fiancé, but he has just become his father’s heir to the title. She is just the poor daughter of a missionary. So she returns to India and finds a man who loves her…
Monson gives us some very exciting scenes as Derek pursues the woman he loves and he and Annalise are caught up in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, depicting the horror of the battles where civilians were killed along with the British and Sepoys. And in the midst of it, Derek’s fiancé shows up.
All the history is here, rich in detail. Great characters, well drawn and meaningful dialog. And more angst than you could want.
Highly recommended.
July 25, 2023
Christine Monson’s first book was Stormfire (1984), a highly sought after bodice ripper like no other. Her other books are worth reading tho they are not mega bodice rippers like Stormfire. She only wrote 6 books and the last one is This Fiery Splendor (1991), which I believe is one of her best along with Rangoon (1985). For me the others are ok … I had to force myself to finish A Flame Run Wild .. I was so bored.
Fiery Splendor is the story of Annalise, who lives in India with her father an English missionary, whose life changes when he dies. She discovers that the dashing aristocrat, Col Derek Clavill is her guardian. When they return to England where he has a fiancée, passion ignites between them tho Derek tries to fight it. Annalise flees back to India. Derek follows and both become caught up in the 1857 rebellion and the siege at Lucknow.
I want to highlight Meredith Duran’s first book, Duke of Shadows (2008), which has a similar setting .., India, England, 1857 rebellion and Lucknow. The hero, Julian is of mixed Indian and British heritage who’s torn between two worlds. It’s a beautifully written passionate love story full of harrowing adventure, rich details of India, and sharply drawn characters. As much as I like Monson’s book I found Duran’s to have a better plot, characters and love scenes… which may be partially due to the fact that the Duran book is more recent. Nope: Duran’s book is just better all around.
Nevertheless, I do believe This Fiery Splendor is well worth reading. Just follow up with the Duke of Shadows for a full taste of romance and harrowing times in India.
Excluding Stormfire, Monson’s other books are readily available from online used book sources and for a decent price.
This Fiery Splendor cover is by John Ennis.
Fiery Splendor is the story of Annalise, who lives in India with her father an English missionary, whose life changes when he dies. She discovers that the dashing aristocrat, Col Derek Clavill is her guardian. When they return to England where he has a fiancée, passion ignites between them tho Derek tries to fight it. Annalise flees back to India. Derek follows and both become caught up in the 1857 rebellion and the siege at Lucknow.
I want to highlight Meredith Duran’s first book, Duke of Shadows (2008), which has a similar setting .., India, England, 1857 rebellion and Lucknow. The hero, Julian is of mixed Indian and British heritage who’s torn between two worlds. It’s a beautifully written passionate love story full of harrowing adventure, rich details of India, and sharply drawn characters. As much as I like Monson’s book I found Duran’s to have a better plot, characters and love scenes… which may be partially due to the fact that the Duran book is more recent. Nope: Duran’s book is just better all around.
Nevertheless, I do believe This Fiery Splendor is well worth reading. Just follow up with the Duke of Shadows for a full taste of romance and harrowing times in India.
Excluding Stormfire, Monson’s other books are readily available from online used book sources and for a decent price.
This Fiery Splendor cover is by John Ennis.
June 10, 2024
It could have been a good story (with all that historical background), if the characters had been better, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.
I thought it was a bit ridiculous that three men could fall for the h, even though they knew she was in love with the H; two of them were ready to marry her in spite of this! That's going a bit too far into La La Land!
Also, while I can understand the h not wanting to marry the H because she doubted that he could stay faithful, plus their backgrounds/outlook on life appeared so different, what I can't understand is her continuing to sleep with him while planning to marry another man! And she did this twice, with two of her ardent suitors! I realize that not all women in the mid 19thc were prim and proper, but again, we're visiting La La Land here! Her love for the H was supposed to excuse her behavior, therefore it didn't matter that they both had other partners waiting in the wings (in his case, the OW/ex-mistress) and the sex is so incredible! Eventually, they'll go their separate ways, but for now they'll get naked every chance they get!
Did she really have the right to take the H to task about his lack of moral standards when her own weren't all that high?
I couldn't finish this one, because I didn't really care if they both had a HEA or if they both croaked.
I thought it was a bit ridiculous that three men could fall for the h, even though they knew she was in love with the H; two of them were ready to marry her in spite of this! That's going a bit too far into La La Land!
Also, while I can understand the h not wanting to marry the H because she doubted that he could stay faithful, plus their backgrounds/outlook on life appeared so different, what I can't understand is her continuing to sleep with him while planning to marry another man! And she did this twice, with two of her ardent suitors! I realize that not all women in the mid 19thc were prim and proper, but again, we're visiting La La Land here! Her love for the H was supposed to excuse her behavior, therefore it didn't matter that they both had other partners waiting in the wings (in his case, the OW/ex-mistress) and the sex is so incredible! Eventually, they'll go their separate ways, but for now they'll get naked every chance they get!
Did she really have the right to take the H to task about his lack of moral standards when her own weren't all that high?
I couldn't finish this one, because I didn't really care if they both had a HEA or if they both croaked.
July 28, 2025
3.5 🌟
RTC
RTC
February 14, 2014
Don't waste your time with this book.
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