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Fire in the Blood

(Brimstone Angels #4)

Erin M. Evans (Goodreads Author)

4.36 · Rating details · 587 ratings · 54 reviews

SCRIBE- award-winning author, Erin M. Evans, continues the riveting tale of her Sundering character, Farideh, as she becomes embroiled in a Forgotten Realms-flavored game of thrones.

In a direct follow-up to the third book in the Sundering series, The Adversary, young warlock Farideh falls into the midst of a battle for the throne of Cormyr. As the war brought on by the ...more

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Hardcover, 464 pages

Published October 14th 2014 by Wizards of the Coast (first published January 1st 2014)

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Nov 06, 2016 Kostas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, dungeons-and-dragons

8.5/10

In ‘Fire in the Blood’ Evans returns once again to her own, good style after the disappointing Sundering book (and the whole series too I could say) with the story becoming again more entertaining, with lots of fun, action and some very interesting new characters.

In this book Evans takes us to, the long-promised, Cormyr and Brin’s hometown, with Farideh and Havilar getting entangled this time in a palace that is full of intrigues and machinations, as the highborn are fighting for a place ...more

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Feb 03, 2016 Shadowdenizen rated it really liked it

Shelves: d-d-novels

After the mediocre "Sundering" tie-in last book, this series is back to it's fine form.

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Oct 10, 2014 Joe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: epic-fantasy

In a follow-up to The Adversary, from the Sundering line of books, Evans follows Farideh and her crew in their further adventures in Cormyr. And while this novel has many of the elements I have come to expect from a D&D themed book, it also includes most of the elements I have come to expect from Evans as well. Specifically, characteristics of stories within the genre, but not the Forgotten Realms line. The political intrigue in this book swings for the levels reached by Martin, while the ...more

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Feb 18, 2014 Brandon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. General Discussion Responses and Review:

Prior to reading

1) Why this book? What do you know about it? General comments, etc.

This is the 4th book in the brimstone angel's series by Erin Evans. I begin the series with book 3 (the Adversary) and loved it. Obviously there was a lot that I missed by not reading the first two. Specifically, some of the intricate politics of the hells can be confusing without the background, but it's not enough to spoil the story.

This book should give us a look at the ...more

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Aug 14, 2017 James rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, forgotten-realms

A great story about the slow corruption of a person using temptations within the gray zone. Some fun combat and encounters.

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Oct 23, 2017 Jay Quietnight rated it it was amazing

Still engaging and unpredictable after four books. This is shaping up to be the best epic fantasy series I've ever read.

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Dec 02, 2019 Ryan Mulder rated it it was ok

Just not keeping my interest. Too much young adult drama and dry backstory.

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Nov 06, 2017 Frank rated it really liked it

I am glad I made it this far into the series. The best Brimstone Angels book I read so far.

Awesome!

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Jan 02, 2019 Josh rated it really liked it

A terrific fantasy novel, especially if you like D&D. Highly recommended.

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Jul 15, 2019 Edgar Schmidt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Awesome!

Farideh continues growing in power. Intense, romantic, emotional and intriguing. Great work.
Beware of any deals you might want to make with a cambion!

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Sep 13, 2014 Daniel rated it it was amazing

An immediate continuation to The Adversary (Evans’ contribution to The Sundering series of loosely-tied together stand-alone novels detailing world-shifting events to the Forgotten Realms shared universe), Fire in the Blood is also the fourth novel in her successful Brimstone Angels plot line. I entered into Evans’ series with The Adversary and reviewed it here, explaining that it worked remarkably well for a reader who was unfamiliar with the characters and storyline. Moreover I was staggered An immediate continuation to The Adversary (Evans’ contribution to The Sundering series of loosely-tied together stand-alone novels detailing world-shifting events to the Forgotten Realms shared universe), Fire in the Blood is also the fourth novel in her successful Brimstone Angels plot line. I entered into Evans’ series with The Adversary and reviewed it here, explaining that it worked remarkably well for a reader who was unfamiliar with the characters and storyline. Moreover I was staggered over how much I enjoyed her rich characterization and pacing, remarking that it was easy to forget this was a media tie-in, which while frequently fun aren’t noteworthy for originality or depth. Most all of my thoughts on The Adversary held equally true for Fire in Blood. In many aspects I think it is even improved.

The one caution I mention is that I’m not sure this would be an ideal entry point if you are unfamiliar with the story/characters. To Evans’ credit, she does a great job at summarizing what has previously passed without making it intrusive on the current story. So it is possible to start here, but not the most logical choice. Go back at least to The Adversary, or as I have just finally done, find a copy of the first Brimstone Angels novel and enjoy the catch up. This is a series for fantasy fans worth investing in even if you don’t read Forgotten Realms, as long as one likes classically styled epic fantasy with compelling characters male and female both. Evans is an asset to this shared universe, and judging by comments she made in an interview in Women Destroy Fantasy!, her style and concerns for diversity may hopefully become more familiar and present in the world of media tie-in novels.

But back to Fire in the Blood…

To start with, Fire in the Blood already improves over its predecessor with a more compelling title, an evocative description of Evans’ characters, particularly the twin stars Farideh and Havilar. These women (tieflings) have had difficult lives with various forces mortal and immortal trying to influence and control them, to possess them. Yet despite these forces of the world seeking to define them, they remain strong-willed individuals with fire inside to keep struggling for independence and a bit of their own happiness. The theme of forces larger than an individual forcing people into difficult choices and compromised promises and principals is common to all of the characters in Fire in the Blood and The Adversary. It is the heart of what makes the books so interesting and characters so compelling.

The plot of Fire in the Blood adds complexities from previous events, twists and turns that are almost Whedon-esque. Sometimes enemies are not so clear, and assumed friends may not be able to really support someone because of complications in their own lives, plots. I won’t try to summarize all the different plot elements here in the story, the official blurb for the novel is somewhat vague presumably because so much is happening here, much dependent on what has gone before. The plots are a complex web, encompassing a large extended cast of characters that include even additional numbers from the previous installment. Erin Evans is a superb juggler. The pacing stays tight and the various balls of each plot element are kept in play, blending and separating with no breakdown in the trick. All of this while still recovering details of the past to make sure that readers don’t become lost. Impressive.

In The Adversary one of the things I didn’t enjoy much compared to the rest was her male characters. They seemed to be stronger ‘types’ than the females, not as rounded, and not nearly as interesting (except for Lorcan) compared to the others. In Fire in the Blood these male characters grew more on me, particularly due to escalating dilemmas for the character of Brin who is facing engagement to a royal, and his heart isn’t really in it. As I became invested in more and more of Evans’ characters the more the entirety of the plot and the world opened to me, like the best of epic fantasy reading experiences.

A healthy mixture of action, romance, and rich characterization in a nicely readable package makes this one that I’m looking forward to rereading within the order continuity as I go back to start at the beginning before the next volume comes out.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reading copy of this from Wizards of the Coast via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Nov 11, 2014 Nicolas Carrillo-Santarelli rated it really liked it

This book was a really nice surprise and, to tell the truth, among the most fun and exciting fantasy books I have read in quite a while. Furthermore, the book, while remaining faithful to the things and staple that make many love fantasy and pseudo-medieval literature, offers many things that other books in the genre do not, and does so quite well: the portrait and handling of feelings and romance in an interesting way. As a male reader, I can say that this aspect was quite intriguing and This book was a really nice surprise and, to tell the truth, among the most fun and exciting fantasy books I have read in quite a while. Furthermore, the book, while remaining faithful to the things and staple that make many love fantasy and pseudo-medieval literature, offers many things that other books in the genre do not, and does so quite well: the portrait and handling of feelings and romance in an interesting way. As a male reader, I can say that this aspect was quite intriguing and interesting, and that apart from the plots related to warfare and court mysteries the romance aspect is as much fun as the others.
From the point of view of style, it can be said that Ms. Evans is a very skilled writer, and keeps the reader interesting and, truly, unable to put down the book, which is part of a broader series. Regarding this, I had not read previous books in it but, being familiar with the Forgotten Realms (which is not, in my opinion, the best setting of D&D, with Eberron and others having quite interesting aspects, and so I miss novels in other settings, that the publisher has not endorsed in a long time), it was not difficult to understand what is going on. Moreover, the internet eases things nowadays. That being said, the book is not the last in the series, and so the reader will likely bemoan and be quite impatient awaiting for the next book: yes, it is quite good and, as I said, Evans is a very good writer.
From the point of view of the plot, the book deals with a potential problem of succession in a kingdom that is being attacked and is embroiled in a difficult armed conflict, and different characters engage in different operations: some try to discover agents trying to weaken the realm from within by means of espionage and investigation (helped by mystical powers) while others seek an heir that may have died or not. As can be seen, it is very interesting. The book is long, but because of how fun it is, the reader will want for more in the end.
On the other hand, it must be noted that the author subtly endorses certain aspects of the so-called "culture wars", and while I do not agree with all their implications, freedom of expression and the fact that the author does so openly do not make the book be negative in that regard, in my opinion. After all, respectful exchange of ideas is important.
That being said, in my humble opinion, and aware that others may think otherwise, the book is not perfect, and that is because of something substantial: how certain things, basically supernatural ones, are handled. This is because of two things: firstly, because the two tiefling characters deal with fiendly powers and gain abilities from them and exchanges with others, and still it never feels like they may be corrupted or endangered as a result. In fact, the character Farideh is portrayed as nigh incorruptible, and while I support the idea that those who deal with evil powers may be redeemed, she (and Havilar) are depicted as almost pure and without being tainted in any respect. Actually, in the end she casts a quite evil spell dealing with the dead, and yet it has no consequence according to the writer. On top of this, good and benign beings are cast in a bad light: paladins, for example, or good powers/deities, as Torm, whose healing is described as almost cruel and painful. I honestly disagree with this and think that the easy depiction of evil beings detracts from the tension and plot of the book, actually making evil appear as irrelevant and not real. I do think that the characters, by dealing with evil powers, may not be as pure as they are shown to be in the book, and may have opened the door to quite serious and evil consequences or serious risks, which yet are totally missing. Of course, things may change in the next book, and I hope they do.
Thus, the book is quite fun and engaging, but it was difficult for me to like the sections dealing with the supernatural, which may reveal an ethical relativist stance I disagree with for theoretical reasons, and because the consequences of acts are not taken to their full extent. ...more

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Nov 29, 2015 Troy Taylor rated it really liked it

I picked up Fire in the Blood at GenCon, intending to have Erin Evans sign a copy -- but the autograph line to her booth stretched too far around the wall for me to stay -- it was GenCon after all, and I had appointments of my own to keep.

So while I didn’t come away with the author’s signature, I did have a 464-page work, another rousing story of the adventures and romances of the tiefling twins Farideh and Havilar. On balance, a success.

I am not to be hurried. And in truth, I wasn’t about to be I picked up Fire in the Blood at GenCon, intending to have Erin Evans sign a copy -- but the autograph line to her booth stretched too far around the wall for me to stay -- it was GenCon after all, and I had appointments of my own to keep.

So while I didn’t come away with the author’s signature, I did have a 464-page work, another rousing story of the adventures and romances of the tiefling twins Farideh and Havilar. On balance, a success.

I am not to be hurried. And in truth, I wasn’t about to be hurried with this, which held the promise of being Evans’ best effort in the series to date. This one I wanted to savor. And so I did, reading a section here, and a section there, stretching out my enjoyment over several months. This was a novel you could set down for a few days, read a portion, and never feel you’ve left.

Not a thing to be rushed.

The novel lived up to the billing -- mostly because Evans resolved the structural issues that sapped her previous work in the series, The Adversary. Havi’s story, and those of the other supporting characters, took on more meaning -- and with the addition of a certain, well, shall we say, ally, (no spoiler here) some much needed punch to her characterization. Fari came out of her funk, and her story was sizzling crisp. Her scenes in the palace, especially with the beleaguered regent, Princess Raedra, were juicy, political interplay at its best.

Moreover, Fari’s done mooning over her brightbirds, Lorcan and Dahl. She’s a full adult now, a woman finding her way in some difficult relationships -- but meeting them head on as a hero should. The teenage angst is gone. This, above all else, makes Evans’ characterization of her loves and romances a fresh addition to shared-setting fantasy fiction. I am still not sure what Fari exactly *wants* from Lorcan and Dahl in these relationships -- maybe Fari doesn’t yet either.
Even so, the author has moved beyond infatuation and into the kind of territory you don’t usually get from these novels. Again, it is refreshing to see these things being explored in an adventure tale.

She even threaded a needle not of her construction -- one of the restraints of writing in shared fiction, in this case, the “world” that Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb constructed for a roleplaying game: The “law” that Cormyr nobles lose their spot in the succession if they are resurrected. In dialog, one of the characters calls it a “silly law” and I couldn’t agree more -- at least within the context of a Dungeons and Dragons novel. It was an artificial construction that took some of the steam out of two very powerful scenes in the novel. Yet, Evans navigated the restriction as well as anyone could -- and still came away with a strong moment, a powerful sacrifice, and the chance for our heroines to shine. (I contend the storytelling would have been stronger without the “silly law”, and the sacrifice more meaningful, especially making one character’s motivations deeper and more heart-rending -- but an author must work within the parameters of the setting.)

The ending on Page 444 was satisfying. I could have done without the epilogue that follows, which reads more like the first chapter of the next novel in the series. But we live in this age of the “false” cliffhanger, the lure for the next installment we only used to have to endure from monthly comic books and the daily soap operas. It didn’t figure in my rating, however. I just lament it. This is a four-star novel, outstanding and enjoyable. I don’t need a dangling storyline to bring me back for more of Farideh and Havilar adventures.
...more

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Oct 17, 2014 Abhinav rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-read

You can read the full review over at my blog:

http://sonsofcorax.wordpress.com/2014...

Erin M. Evans’ Brimstone Angels series has proven to be quite a good one as it has progressed. These novels feature the tiefling twins Havilar and Farideh as the main characters, with a great cast of supporting chracters, each of whom is different from the other. And as great as the characters are, the plots themselves have been fairly engaging on a minimal level. I love reading the adventures of these two, with You can read the full review over at my blog:

http://sonsofcorax.wordpress.com/2014...

Erin M. Evans’ Brimstone Angels series has proven to be quite a good one as it has progressed. These novels feature the tiefling twins Havilar and Farideh as the main characters, with a great cast of supporting chracters, each of whom is different from the other. And as great as the characters are, the plots themselves have been fairly engaging on a minimal level. I love reading the adventures of these two, with Farideh struggling to learn more about her warlock pact with the cambion devil Lorcan, and Havilar falling in love with a fellow young adventurer Aubrin Crownsilver, and both of them managing all of that while also taking down the bad guys one by one.

In the recently released Fire In The Blood, the fourth novel in the series, we pick up from where we left off at the end of The Adversary last year. The characters have all made their way to the city of Suzail, the capital of the Cormyr empire where Aubrin happens to be a noble, and even one with a half-strong claim to the throne itself. Things have been pretty rough for everyone, and Erin M. Evans revisits the concept of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. Each character has to face a great many personal challenges as they are assaulted by tons of things on all sides, and have to figure out what they really want out of their lives and the events around them. Goes without saying really that Fire In The Blood is a pretty damn good novel and is certainly the best in the series so far.

With Farideh marked by Asmodeus, the archdevil God of Sin, as one of his Chosen by the end of The Adversary, it is clear that her personal troubles have gained a whole new complexity, the kind she doesn’t need or want in her life. And with Aubrin (Brin) supposed to marry Raedra Obarskyr, a Princess of the Royal Blood of Cormyr, Havilar’s life has taken an unfortunate turn as well. The sisters have faced down some really tough enemies in the past, but this time their enemy is life itself, for no sooner do they find themselves out of one predicament than another finds them, and now they are living in one of the most hostile cities on Faerun, in that they are rather unwelcome in Suzail and are also the butt of endless gossip.

But that’s the kind of environment that Erin appears to thrive upon. She introduces several new characters in the novel, and each of them recommends himself or herself in one way or another. The two most significant of these characters are Raedra Obsarksyr and one of Cormyr’s many War Wizards, Ilstan. Thrown together with these two at every turn, Havilar and Farideh must, in turn, fight against inherent racial bias and also prove their worth to everyone around them. The followers of Shar, the Goddess of Loss, are on the march for war across Faerun, and their current target is Cormyr itself, which is where the new characters come in and where the old characters rediscover themselves.

I’ve always loved Erin’s characterization and she absolutely does not disappoint here. Farideh and Havilar are consistently presented as tough individuals, whether physically or mentally, and they are joined by the headstrong, but no less determined or decisive Raedra who certainly gives them a run for their money with the story here. Sure, with the cast being so big, not everyone gets to shine, but Raedra gets a lot of page-time in the novel, and as the pages turn and move, she also undergoes a rather epic transformation that is sure to get you excited as you follow along on her journey. ...more

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Feb 08, 2014 Justin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dnd

Having survived the Shade's internment camps and come to grips with the missing years in their life, Farideh and Havilar travel to Suzail, capital city of Cormyr. There, they hope to give Brin time to work out the problem of his engagement to the Princess of Cormyr, Raedra Obarskyr. At the same time, Farideh must wrestle with the recent discovery that she is a Chosen of Asmodeus, and the terrible power that comes with such an arrangement. Dahl and Vercaras also are in the city, and hope to Having survived the Shade's internment camps and come to grips with the missing years in their life, Farideh and Havilar travel to Suzail, capital city of Cormyr. There, they hope to give Brin time to work out the problem of his engagement to the Princess of Cormyr, Raedra Obarskyr. At the same time, Farideh must wrestle with the recent discovery that she is a Chosen of Asmodeus, and the terrible power that comes with such an arrangement. Dahl and Vercaras also are in the city, and hope to investigate the disappearance of one of their Harper operatives in the city. But hoping for any respite to get one's bearings proves impossible, for Cormyr is at war with the Shade, and life in a country at war is anything but predictable.

This is my second Erin Evans book. I began reading with The Adversary, which I thought was excellent. This book, however, was another step forward. The challenge in the Adversary was largely one of isolation. This book, however, puts Fari and Havi at the center of a vast conflicts that erupt not just among political factions within Cormyr, but also between the nations of Cormyr and Netheril.

All of the major characters undergo a great deal of development in this book. Havilar must wrestle with the strains that reality place on her now-adult relationship with Brin, who is pulled between duty to his country and his love of Havilar. Farideh must continue to struggle with her relationship with Lorcan, the half-devil, and the question of whether to pursue it as a romance or write it off as nothing more than the pact. The character, however, who really surprised me in this book was Dahl. After returning, unexpectedly, to field operations in the Adversary, Dahl is back in full action in this book--and proves time and again to be exceptionally good at his job. He continues to be plagued by his fall from paladin-hood with Oghma, but his regrets over his past no longer smother him. In fact, he often thrives, and may be the most effective character in the book. We are also treated to a full development of Princess Raedra, who proves to be a nuanced, powerful figure in her own right, with no shortage of humanity. In many ways, this book is her story, and it's worth every page turn.

As with the Adversary, all of this goodness is rooted firmly to Forgotten Realms lore, both on Toril itself, as well on other planes, including the nine hells. There are nods to current events in the realms, including the current Tyranny of Dragons storyline. There are also references to events in other recent Realms books, such as the siege of Marsember in Troy Denning's The Sentinel and the future massing of armies to attack Myth Drannor, as told in Ed Greenwood's The Herald. I also found neat connections to other Realms stories that I'm reading. For example, Raedra made mention of Alusair Obarskyr, the Steel Regent, a prominent figure in Cormyr's history. She also an appearance in Tiberius's Neverwinter Nights module, Saleron's Gambit, which I was playing as a read this book. It is these kinds of connections that makes reading and playing in the Forgotten Realms so much fun.

This was the best book I've read all year long, and I've had a lot of fun reading this year. Highly recommended to everyone. ...more

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Nov 11, 2014 Kim rated it really liked it

I first entered Farideh's world when I explored the Sundering Series last year through NetGalley. The series was comprised of six distinct novels about the separation of two worlds and its impact on their respective peoples and gods. Farideh and her journey as a Chosen, one blessed by a specific deity for an unknown purpose, were explored in the third book of the series entitled The Adversary. Her journey continued in this new novel and involved many of the same characters that interacted with I first entered Farideh's world when I explored the Sundering Series last year through NetGalley. The series was comprised of six distinct novels about the separation of two worlds and its impact on their respective peoples and gods. Farideh and her journey as a Chosen, one blessed by a specific deity for an unknown purpose, were explored in the third book of the series entitled The Adversary. Her journey continued in this new novel and involved many of the same characters that interacted with her in the previous book.

While much of the story centered around Farideh and her search to understand why she was called to be a Chosen, there were many moments when other characters had their moment in the spotlight. Her companions from the previous novel, including Havilar, her twin; Mehen, their father; Brin, lover to Havilar and betrothed to Readra; and Lorcan, archdevil that has Farideh under a pact, made up a large portion of the action and adventure in this novel. Even though much of what happened in the book followed the events of The Adversary, the author did a wonderful job inserting necessary information about the characters and their past decisions that I could have learned about them without having read the previous book beforehand. They were very much a mixture of good and evil, sinner and saint. Some were happy to switch sides whenever necessary while others were bothered greatly by the mere thought of going against their beliefs.

Struggles of the heart, struggles within the royal court and struggles on the battlefield were all on display in this particular novel. The pace of the story varied according to whatever was happening in the chapter at hand. Some of the chapters went by fairly quick as there were battles or fighting which propelled the story forward. Others moved slower as the intrigue and political maneuvering within the royal court between the nobles weighed the story down. There were three vastly different settings in which events took place. Each of these places also played a part in the speed at which the action occurred.

By the very end of the book, I was happy that I requested the book. The story answered many of the questions that lingered after reading The Adversary. It also left its own set of questions that I hope will be answered in another visit to Farideh's part of the world. Even with the few bumps in the road, there were many funny, sweet moments that mixed well with the serious ones. This book was written as a sequel of sorts, but it did very well as a stand-alone type of novel, in my opinion. If you're looking for an unusual heroine to root for in an abnormal adventure or simply love the world within the Forgotten Realms, then this book should be among your TBR pile. ...more

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Sep 07, 2014 Timothy Pecoraro rated it really liked it

When I heard that Erin Evans was doing a sequel to Adversary I was pretty surprised. Not because Wizards of the Coast is unknown to do sequels even sequels within a series as Adversary was in the Sundering Series. But more because, the book was so middling. It seemed like the author created it for something else and then transplanted it into the Forgotten Realms rather than making completely from the ground up for the world. When I read the book, I kind of imagined that the author owed Wizards a When I heard that Erin Evans was doing a sequel to Adversary I was pretty surprised. Not because Wizards of the Coast is unknown to do sequels even sequels within a series as Adversary was in the Sundering Series. But more because, the book was so middling. It seemed like the author created it for something else and then transplanted it into the Forgotten Realms rather than making completely from the ground up for the world. When I read the book, I kind of imagined that the author owed Wizards a book and this was her way of fulfilling your obligation. I guess I was wrong and I must to some degree apologize to Erin Evans for this supposition; because Fire in the Blood is an excellent book and while it took me almost a month to read it. When I reached the end I could hardly believe that I didn’t want it to end.

Everyone from the first book is back and while I was very critical of the characters the first time around. I have to admit they grew on me. I was less excited about the setting as the whole Netherese War is REALLY wearing out it’s welcome. But the actual plot and the characters who participate in it are interesting and I was surely hooked all the way to the end. Also, as this appears to be the first in a series of it’s own. I was pretty happy that the author executed on it so well. All of the things I disliked about the first book seemed better explained and the quality of the writing itself was better. The end was especially well done. While I was a little put off by the fact that one of the major plot lines that at least is represented to the reader as a major plotline, is not dealt with in the end. I can certainly understand that the author is using this to get people to read the next book in the series. Which is good, often Wizards books have no through line plot which makes each one almost too self contained.

While this series is definitely not my first choice in the worlds of Wizards of the Coast; I have to say that from my perspective it gets the award for VERY MUCH IMPROVED. If you even liked the characters from the Adversary you owe it yourself to read this book. But if you haven’t read the Adversary you need to, I’ve seen a lot of people complain about not being able to follow this book coming to it cold. Which is understandable, and while I didn’t love the first book; I did give it three stars. So it isn’t bad, it just wasn’t great. ...more

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Oct 20, 2014 Jonathan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: forgotten-realms

Following the end of The Adversary, Farideh and Havilar are in Cormyr, dealing with the consequences of (view spoiler). This means that, in addition to other things, the characters must deal with the most fork-tongued creatures of all, nobles.

Since this book is set in the Forgotten Realms country of Cormyr, it features all of the staples of a good Cormyr story: nobles, Purple dragons (soldiers), War Wizards, and the royal Obarskyr family. This allows Erin M. Following the end of The Adversary, Farideh and Havilar are in Cormyr, dealing with the consequences of (view spoiler). This means that, in addition to other things, the characters must deal with the most fork-tongued creatures of all, nobles.

Since this book is set in the Forgotten Realms country of Cormyr, it features all of the staples of a good Cormyr story: nobles, Purple dragons (soldiers), War Wizards, and the royal Obarskyr family. This allows Erin M. Evans to occasionally shift focus from her main characters to new characters introduced in this book, primarily Raedra Obarskyr, who is a daughter of the royal family, and Ilstan Nyaril, who is a War Wizard.

Yet, despite all of the Cormyrian intrigue in this book, there is still more than enough room to focus on the main characters of the Brimstone Angels series: Farideh, Havilar, Mehen, Brin, Dahl, Lorcan, and Sairche. There's also enough room for all of the classic Brimstone Angels villains: devils, demons, ghosts, and wizards. Since this book occurs during the Sundering, a lot of the plot also revolves around Chosen and the Shadovar.

An advantage of the Brimstone Angels series over many other Forgotten Realms series is that Brimstone Angels is character-oriented. While there are occasional fight scenes, and there is an over-arching adventure plot, the primary focus is how the main characters are adjusting to their new setting in Cormyr. Like the previous book, there is a lot of space for character growth, and Erin M. Evans's character writing is improving with each book. With limited space, she manages to develop her main characters, make new characters sympathetic, introduce new recurring villains, and even redefine some classic Forgotten Realms characters.

As this is part of a series, this book will not make much sense unless you read the prior three books, which are also well-written.

Fire in the Blood is an entertaining read, and once again Erin M. Evans has written a multi-layered plot, which affects her characters and the country of Cormyr as a whole. I can only imagine the changes to the Realms that will be wrought in the sequel. ...more

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Aug 26, 2014 Curtis rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, netgalley, reviewed, fantasy, read-in-2014

Farideh was probably one of my favorite characters that I was introduced to in The Sundering series and The Adversary was certainly one of my favorite books. So of course I simply jumped at the opportunity to do an advance read of Fire in the Blood, the next installment in Farideh’s story.

Blurb:

SCRIBE- award-winning author, Erin M. Evans, continues the riveting tale of her Sundering character, Farideh, as she becomes embroiled in a Forgotten Realms-flavored game of thrones.

In a direct follow-up Farideh was probably one of my favorite characters that I was introduced to in The Sundering series and The Adversary was certainly one of my favorite books. So of course I simply jumped at the opportunity to do an advance read of Fire in the Blood, the next installment in Farideh’s story.

Blurb:

SCRIBE- award-winning author, Erin M. Evans, continues the riveting tale of her Sundering character, Farideh, as she becomes embroiled in a Forgotten Realms-flavored game of thrones.

In a direct follow-up to the third book in the Sundering series, The Adversary, young warlock Farideh falls into the midst of a battle for the throne of Cormyr. As the war brought on by the Sundering rages across Faerûn, princes and princesses, wizards and rogues scheme to capture the seat of power of the Land of the Purple Dragon—with Farideh and her allies caught squarely in the middle.

Don’t be fooled by the scant details given in the book’s description. There is so much more here than one might see on the surface. Love, war, high fantasy, magic, demons, betrayal - it’s all part of Farideh’s story and more. What I think I particularly enjoyed about this second installment is getting to see Farideh’s interactions with others. There was more of that in this book than in the previous one and it demonstrated the level of depth that Evans has created for these characters and this world. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing more about Farideh in the future.

My one frustration was the way Farideh’s story turns, for a moment, to a focus on romantic relationships. Granted, they are a part of everyone’s existence, but the way a man can suddenly turn her off course and overwhelm her just seemed so contrary to the strong and independent personality that characterizes Farideh all throughout The Adversary. In the end, I think she comes back out on top, but it was surprising to see and had me worried for a few moments while I was reading.

(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.) ...more

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Sep 03, 2014 Star Bookworm rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I think I have turned into a little bit of a D&D nerd after being privileged to read the Wizards of the Coasts new Forgotten Realms series, The Sundering. I found the overall experience with the series fascinating and a good point to jump into the D&D world. I realize that the Forgotten Realms have existed well before my introduction, but I feel Wizards of the Coast has set up a great point for newbies to jump into the genre.

I was pleased to see that I would be able to continue with the ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 Michael Adams rated it really liked it

Anyone who has read any of my previous reviews knows that I have been involved with D&D for 24 years and reading the novels for about the same amount of time. My previous review of The Adversary, my first Erin Evans book, was so-so and I did not hate it nor like it. I have to say I actually really liked Fire and Blood. This story continues from where the Adversary left us with Brin, Havi and the rest of their ever growing crew stuck in Cormyr and still having to answer the residual questions ...more

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Sep 16, 2014 Kendra Lawrence rated it it was amazing

I like that we get a glimpse into Mehen's relationships as well, and I think it'd be sweet if he got with a handsome dragonborn. Kallan, maybe.

I can't decide between Lorcan and Dahl. I love Lorcan, but he was a jerk in this book (moreso than usual). In the [i]Adversary{/i], I got the impression Lorcan might be falling for Fari, but in this one, he is clearly using her. Dahl grew on me, and by the end of the second book, when he gave her the rod, it was clear he liked her, and I can't say their ...more

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Nov 13, 2014 Matt Cantrell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, fantasy

While I would consider many authors excellent, Erin M. Evans is my absolute favorite. Fire in the Blood is a great example why, as each of her novels continues to grow more complex and more rewarding each time. The Adversary was the predecessor to this Fire in the Blood, and was written as part of the Sundering series. With that in mind, although I loved the book, I felt as if it were "forced" or "pigeonholed" into fitting into the series in a way that didn't seem completely natural. There were ...more

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Apr 25, 2016 Silas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This fourth entry into the Brimstone Angels series is excellent like the previous three. It felt a good bit like an extension of the previous book, which was a part of the Sundering event in the Forgotten Realms. I read all but one of those, since I have yet to read some of the previous novels for one of the characters, and have read all of the Elminster books. Reading both of those things will help to make a number of the events presented here a bit more familiar. The scope of this book felt a ...more

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Oct 04, 2014 Jessica rated it really liked it

"The Adversary" was neither my favorite nor least favorite book in The Sundering series. This book starts up where the other left off, and I began reading it with a great deal of anticipation. It did not disappoint, and I very much look forward to the sequel.

It's fairly typical sword and sorcery fantasy, which is okay by me. No need to fix something that isn't broken.

One criticism of the series, I really only care about half of the characters. The princess, who did not appear in "The ...more

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Mar 07, 2015 Bames rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley, in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This book centers of the character named Farideh. Farideh plays an important role in the "Sundering" series of books. Erin M. Evans, who was among the authors who wrote books part of the Sundering series, tells us what happened to Farideh as she finds herself in the middle of complicated set of circumstances.

Farideh and her twin sister, Havilar, are in Cormyr. Aubrin is engaged to marry the Princess ...more

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Oct 19, 2014 Jeffery Mace rated it it was amazing

Shelves: forgotten-realms

The fourth brimestone angels book brings Erin M Evans into something closer to epic fantasy, and she comes up to the task perfectly. Still set during the event of the Sundering (taking place from the end of The Adversary to shortly after the beginning of Troy Denning's The Sentinel, with some events of that book being mentioned) Farideh and the gang are in Cormyr where they must deal with the fallout from the war with Sembia & Netheral including Havi and Brin's relationship, Brin's ...more

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Jul 29, 2014 Daniel rated it really liked it

***No Spoiler Alert***

First of all, thanks to netgalley for the early review.

Erin M Evans have always brought a sense of youthfullyness in her writings, she blends the setting and situation together perfectly.

Fire in the Bloods throws you right in the middle of the power struggles thats gripping Cormyr. It shows the dilemma that goes through both Farideh and Havillar.

Mehen's side story gave a revelation on the angles and openess I've never seen before from Forgotten Realms. It gave a whole new ...more

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Dec 30, 2014 Paul Allard rated it really liked it

Demons, goblins and political intrigue

I’ve not read any of the author’s previous work so some of this was a mystery to me as it assumes knowledge of the previous two books in the series. There is some explanation but it is still mystifying in places.

Part of a Forgotten Realms series, this deals with the machinations of demons and others wrestling for power and control.in a fantasy world. It is not all talking and manipulating and some adventure occurs. Having recently read a Salvatore book in ...more

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Apr 16, 2016 Brian rated it really liked it

Much more fun than the Adversary, this books really ramps up that urban-fantasy-in-a-high-fantasy world feel. We get more politics (both mortal and Hellish) and all the characters are given interesting things to do and issues to wrestle with. The relationship between causes-and-effects is even tighter, and when things start spinning out of control, you understand absolutely how things got to this point (though one of the male characters does spend a good chunk of the book being a whiny twit). ...more

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The Sundered Book...: Fire in the Blood--Chapters 19-21	12	19	Dec 05, 2014 06:29PM
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About Erin M. Evans

Erin M. Evans

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Other books in the series

Brimstone Angels (6 books)

Books by Erin M. Evans

The Adversary (The Sundering, #3; Brimstone Angels, #3)

The God Catcher (Forgotten Realms: Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep, #5)

Ashes of the Tyrant (Brimstone Angels, #5)

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Quotes from Fire in the Blood

“The painting hangs beside the first window in the Hall of Gazes, charmed against fading or dust. The queen bathed in a flood of sunlight is Gantharla First-Queen, and the sword is Symylazarr, the sword all have sworn their oaths of allegiance and fealty upon since Varanth, its first bearer, fell against the goblins of Hlundadim. The young knight at her feet is Oric Redspear, who will die in his duty, defending the queen’s son at Marsember. Archons linger in the corners of the painting, and the red-haired queen is stern as Kelemvor. The sword lies heavily on the kneeling knight, so thickly painted one could trace its edges with blind touch. All is solemn. These promises are unbreakable.” — 0 likes

“Honestly, that was without a doubt the worst seduction I’ve ever witnessed. And I once watched a polymorphed kyton try to go about it.” — 0 likes

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