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Stone Circles #1
Rising Fire
What if the standing stones and stone circles across the old Celtic world had a secret origin and use? What if some opened into another world? What if the goddess of fire was trapped beneath one?
Lovely and innocent, Brienne of Yester has always been able to manipulate fire, but when her powers suddenly surge, the simple life she once knew explodes.
Handsome, fearless, and commanding, William de Brus has been summoned by the king to investigate a nobleman rumored to have powers linked to the fabled fire goddess. When he chances upon Brienne, his desire for her is immediate. But as his mystical quest unfolds, William realizes that she is at the center of it — for Brienne possesses the very power he has been sent to vanquish....
As their attraction deepens, William attempts to free Brienne from the dark force beginning to control her — even when his duty demands that he treat her as an enemy. With emotions flaring, fire rising, and evil threatening at every turn, can the two lovers survive the coming battle and save all of humanity?
Lovely and innocent, Brienne of Yester has always been able to manipulate fire, but when her powers suddenly surge, the simple life she once knew explodes.
Handsome, fearless, and commanding, William de Brus has been summoned by the king to investigate a nobleman rumored to have powers linked to the fabled fire goddess. When he chances upon Brienne, his desire for her is immediate. But as his mystical quest unfolds, William realizes that she is at the center of it — for Brienne possesses the very power he has been sent to vanquish....
As their attraction deepens, William attempts to free Brienne from the dark force beginning to control her — even when his duty demands that he treat her as an enemy. With emotions flaring, fire rising, and evil threatening at every turn, can the two lovers survive the coming battle and save all of humanity?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
84 people are currently reading
1601 people want to read
About the author
Terri Brisbin
210 books548 followersTerri Brisbin is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than 50 historical, paranormal and fantasy romances and her books have been released in more than 20 languages and 25 countries around the world since 1998. She's been published by Berkley/Jove, Harlequin, Kensington Books, NAL/Signet, Dragonblade Publishing and Oliver Heber Books. Terri has also self-published her works and will have new books out through 2026!
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a married mom, a grammy and a dental hygienist while plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland . For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a married mom, a grammy and a dental hygienist while plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland . For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 19, 2024
Further proof that fantasy-romance** just doesn’t work for me. Fantasy sagas with sex, yes, or even dark historical paranormals with vampires or other beasties, sometimes. But not these cheesy fantasy-lite novels with sappy love stories & fated mates & superhero powers, blah blah blah.
Fated mates are too easy an excuse to have the H/h tie themselves to each other without the bother of actual character development and/or reliance on the reader’s perceptions…& such is the case here. Aside from his awesome abs & beautiful brown hair (shoulder-length, unlike the bored cover model), William was unremarkable with almost no personality; the heroine Brienne was even worse, with no defining traits or ‘oomph’ whatsoever despite being the Human Torch of medieval Scotland. (Point of fact, she was so bland that I literally kept forgetting her name. 🙈) William’s own powers—which turned him into a cross between Avatar & The Hulk, + a ridiculously OTT Deadpool twist wherein the sword/hammer literally sprout from his appendages—did no favors for yours truly, turning lukewarm feelings into outright lolz. It was just too damn much when combined with a boring plot, dragging pace, laughably EVUL!! villain, & the cheeseball MINE, MY MATE, MINE!! romance.
Sorry, but there it is. The premise of the stone circles was neat & had potential, but the MCs bored me to tears & the superpowers were like a bad Marvel crossover. I won’t be continuing with this trilogy. 🥱
**Now known as Romantasy.
Fated mates are too easy an excuse to have the H/h tie themselves to each other without the bother of actual character development and/or reliance on the reader’s perceptions…& such is the case here. Aside from his awesome abs & beautiful brown hair (shoulder-length, unlike the bored cover model), William was unremarkable with almost no personality; the heroine Brienne was even worse, with no defining traits or ‘oomph’ whatsoever despite being the Human Torch of medieval Scotland. (Point of fact, she was so bland that I literally kept forgetting her name. 🙈) William’s own powers—which turned him into a cross between Avatar & The Hulk, + a ridiculously OTT Deadpool twist wherein the sword/hammer literally sprout from his appendages—did no favors for yours truly, turning lukewarm feelings into outright lolz. It was just too damn much when combined with a boring plot, dragging pace, laughably EVUL!! villain, & the cheeseball MINE, MY MATE, MINE!! romance.
Sorry, but there it is. The premise of the stone circles was neat & had potential, but the MCs bored me to tears & the superpowers were like a bad Marvel crossover. I won’t be continuing with this trilogy. 🥱
**Now known as Romantasy.
January 14, 2016
3 stars
First book I manage to finish for 2016. Yay, me! :D
Also first review for 2016 :P
Rising Fire is the first book from Stone Circles series and also my first try into Terri Brisbin's works. I try to read this one because Celtic mythology and deities is one of my favorites. Also the premise kinda remind me of Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts that I loved (wait, just realize both have same series name!!). What I liked again is, the deities is Irish deities, not Gaelic one, also this one set in historical era, when Christianity already spread in British Isle and druidic practice considered as heretic.
For a first book, Rising Fire did a good job. Not stellar, but definitely make a strong foundation for a series. The h/H are just okay, I mean nothing special to make me remember them for a long time. No TSTL heroine and no I'm alpha-hear-me-roar hero, so maybe it's look like them a little blah and bland. But it's okay, I still enjoy the story. What bugged me is the romance. The relationship between Brienne and William feel too rushed for me,also kinda lack of chemistry. As individual, they are not bad, but as a couple I feel something are off.
The villain is unusual and despite his I-want-to-rule-the-world attitude, Brisbin write him as not one dimensional characters. There is hope that the villain will be redeemed himself in the end. Because this book is part of trilogy, there are some thread to the next book and I'm glad that the villain remained the same. What I liked again, compared to Circle series by Nora Roberts, the characters don't know each other, but introduced one by one. The main characters for the next book doesn't appear in this one, but I'm sure that Brienne and William will have some role in the future.
I agree with one review that said the writing in this book seems choppy. It's easy for me to lost track and go "huh?", because some scenes transition is not smooth. I also lost track who is who, especially the nobles one. The fact about William's heritage also a little fuzzy at first and took me some chapters to know who he really is.
I think I will read the second book, Raging Sea. From the premise, it sounds more promising because both MCs already know each other but there are some heartbreak behind it. Second chance is one of my favorite trope and I want to know if the Goddess of Fire, Chaela will never ever released in this world. Because when that happen, boom!! Destruction everywhere ;).
First book I manage to finish for 2016. Yay, me! :D
Also first review for 2016 :P
Rising Fire is the first book from Stone Circles series and also my first try into Terri Brisbin's works. I try to read this one because Celtic mythology and deities is one of my favorites. Also the premise kinda remind me of Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts that I loved (wait, just realize both have same series name!!). What I liked again is, the deities is Irish deities, not Gaelic one, also this one set in historical era, when Christianity already spread in British Isle and druidic practice considered as heretic.
For a first book, Rising Fire did a good job. Not stellar, but definitely make a strong foundation for a series. The h/H are just okay, I mean nothing special to make me remember them for a long time. No TSTL heroine and no I'm alpha-hear-me-roar hero, so maybe it's look like them a little blah and bland. But it's okay, I still enjoy the story. What bugged me is the romance. The relationship between Brienne and William feel too rushed for me,also kinda lack of chemistry. As individual, they are not bad, but as a couple I feel something are off.
The villain is unusual and despite his I-want-to-rule-the-world attitude, Brisbin write him as not one dimensional characters. There is hope that the villain will be redeemed himself in the end. Because this book is part of trilogy, there are some thread to the next book and I'm glad that the villain remained the same. What I liked again, compared to Circle series by Nora Roberts, the characters don't know each other, but introduced one by one. The main characters for the next book doesn't appear in this one, but I'm sure that Brienne and William will have some role in the future.
I agree with one review that said the writing in this book seems choppy. It's easy for me to lost track and go "huh?", because some scenes transition is not smooth. I also lost track who is who, especially the nobles one. The fact about William's heritage also a little fuzzy at first and took me some chapters to know who he really is.
I think I will read the second book, Raging Sea. From the premise, it sounds more promising because both MCs already know each other but there are some heartbreak behind it. Second chance is one of my favorite trope and I want to know if the Goddess of Fire, Chaela will never ever released in this world. Because when that happen, boom!! Destruction everywhere ;).
May 3, 2019
I've enjoyed historicals by Terri Brisbin in the past. So, what to say about Rising Fire? Sadly, I spent most of the book feeling about as bored as the hero on the cover looks. The idea at the heart of this series caught my attention, but in this opening volume of the series, the story just doesn't come to life.
We learn as the book opens that a powerful, evil goddess is trapped beneath the ancient standing stones. The action then shifts to 13th century Scotland where a man named Marcus is startled awake by a horrifying premonition that something terrible is about to happen. It is time for them to fight evil, and so he sets out with his band of followers.
In the Scottish village of Yester, young Brienne has been raised by the local blacksmith but knows herself to be the illegitimate daughter of the powerful Lord Hugh. Brienne has secretly discovered and started to nurture her talent for commanding fire, little knowing that this talent of hers will soon turn her world upside down.
And, in case you're still able to follow the plot summary, here is the last bit of background: King Alexander of Scotland is convinced that Lord Hugh is in league with something unholy, and so he sends trusted William de Brus to Lord Hugh's lands to ferret out what is happening. Alexander fears his own health is weakening due to some unknown curse brought by Lord Hugh.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
We learn as the book opens that a powerful, evil goddess is trapped beneath the ancient standing stones. The action then shifts to 13th century Scotland where a man named Marcus is startled awake by a horrifying premonition that something terrible is about to happen. It is time for them to fight evil, and so he sets out with his band of followers.
In the Scottish village of Yester, young Brienne has been raised by the local blacksmith but knows herself to be the illegitimate daughter of the powerful Lord Hugh. Brienne has secretly discovered and started to nurture her talent for commanding fire, little knowing that this talent of hers will soon turn her world upside down.
And, in case you're still able to follow the plot summary, here is the last bit of background: King Alexander of Scotland is convinced that Lord Hugh is in league with something unholy, and so he sends trusted William de Brus to Lord Hugh's lands to ferret out what is happening. Alexander fears his own health is weakening due to some unknown curse brought by Lord Hugh.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
March 2, 2015
Good start and the villain is great. Lacked some oomph though and the transition between scenes felt choppy. Like everyone is sleeping and after a sentence battle ensued without much preamble. It's easy to miss the transition.
May 3, 2019
This was one of those books where there was nothing I didn't like, but nothing really grabbed me either. A nice village girl discovers she has magical fire powers, and an evil noble tries to make her use her powers for evil. Then a nice young knight falls in love with her and rescues her. It was a good Medieval, but the fantasy elements just felt tacked on for no real reason.
April 7, 2015
I could not finish this book. The heroine kept disobeying everybody who was trying to keep her alive. It felt like she was too stupid to live.
Example: Some strange knights are seen in the village. Her dad tells her to stay in the house and on the main paths because if they see her and take her, he won't be able to help her. What does she do? Immediately go down to the forest and make out with one of the guys.
Another example: Her father sees her manipulating fire. He tells her not to do it again because someone might notice. Of course, she ignores him and the bad guy senses she has magic.
The scenes of human sacrifice also bothered me.
I stopped reading at that point.
Example: Some strange knights are seen in the village. Her dad tells her to stay in the house and on the main paths because if they see her and take her, he won't be able to help her. What does she do? Immediately go down to the forest and make out with one of the guys.
Another example: Her father sees her manipulating fire. He tells her not to do it again because someone might notice. Of course, she ignores him and the bad guy senses she has magic.
The scenes of human sacrifice also bothered me.
I stopped reading at that point.
July 20, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Gods, warriors, romance and fantasy.
Opening Sentence: The earth buckled beneath her feet, its roar fearsome and deafening, and the sky tore itself open to hurl torrents of rain and lightning at her.
The Review:
Okay, first off let me say I like fantasy and if it’s done right I love it. I just didn’t dig this book a bunch. I did read the whole thing and I am sure it will appeal to people. Just wasn’t up there enough to be a great read for me. So I will start off with what I did like about the book. This is a first book in a new series, the concept — 7 descendants of old gods is pretty cool and unique. This first book focuses on three of those descendants — Hugh, Brienne (Hugh’s bastard daughter) and William. Brienne and Hugh are descendants of Chaela, who is the god of chaos and destruction. So that tells you a little something, however Brienne wasn’t raised by Hugh directly and that plays a part in who she is and becomes during this book. William is also a bastard just of the King. In the beginning of book Chaela is cast down and trapped by the other six gods, Nauntosuelta, Taran, Belenus, Cernunnos, and Sucellus because she tried to rise up and rule them all.
So check, we got some interesting characters and good premise! From there I am just not sure what it was exactly that didn’t appeal to me. I think it started off with the novel taking place in the late 1200s in Scotland, but everyone had a French name, and a lot of the places were made up or changed slightly. That may not be an issue for some people and given that it is a fantasy, I totally get that she is doing what any fantasy writer would. I just feel if you are going to use a real place even in fantasy then use the real place. That was probably my biggest pet peeve with the book.
The most confusing part of the book was the bloodline thing. I totally got that they were descendants of gods but from there things just got odd for me. For example, William was a warblood, very good at war, but he also changed form so that kind of seemed like beastblood to me. So I felt like the bloodline lost some of the potential it really had. Waterblood and stormblood seemed almost like that same bloodline, and sunblood and fireblood again a little similar. Maybe in the next book that idea will be expanded on and amped up to its potential. This was just a kind of in the middle book for me, I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I was not grabbed by the seat of my pants and taken for a ride, it was a so-so read.
Notable Scene:
“You are of the warbloods. Brienne is of the firebloods,” Marcus explained. “There will be others-waterblood, stormblood, earthblood, sunblood, and beastblood.
FTC Advisory: Signet/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rising Fire. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Gods, warriors, romance and fantasy.
Opening Sentence: The earth buckled beneath her feet, its roar fearsome and deafening, and the sky tore itself open to hurl torrents of rain and lightning at her.
The Review:
Okay, first off let me say I like fantasy and if it’s done right I love it. I just didn’t dig this book a bunch. I did read the whole thing and I am sure it will appeal to people. Just wasn’t up there enough to be a great read for me. So I will start off with what I did like about the book. This is a first book in a new series, the concept — 7 descendants of old gods is pretty cool and unique. This first book focuses on three of those descendants — Hugh, Brienne (Hugh’s bastard daughter) and William. Brienne and Hugh are descendants of Chaela, who is the god of chaos and destruction. So that tells you a little something, however Brienne wasn’t raised by Hugh directly and that plays a part in who she is and becomes during this book. William is also a bastard just of the King. In the beginning of book Chaela is cast down and trapped by the other six gods, Nauntosuelta, Taran, Belenus, Cernunnos, and Sucellus because she tried to rise up and rule them all.
So check, we got some interesting characters and good premise! From there I am just not sure what it was exactly that didn’t appeal to me. I think it started off with the novel taking place in the late 1200s in Scotland, but everyone had a French name, and a lot of the places were made up or changed slightly. That may not be an issue for some people and given that it is a fantasy, I totally get that she is doing what any fantasy writer would. I just feel if you are going to use a real place even in fantasy then use the real place. That was probably my biggest pet peeve with the book.
The most confusing part of the book was the bloodline thing. I totally got that they were descendants of gods but from there things just got odd for me. For example, William was a warblood, very good at war, but he also changed form so that kind of seemed like beastblood to me. So I felt like the bloodline lost some of the potential it really had. Waterblood and stormblood seemed almost like that same bloodline, and sunblood and fireblood again a little similar. Maybe in the next book that idea will be expanded on and amped up to its potential. This was just a kind of in the middle book for me, I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I was not grabbed by the seat of my pants and taken for a ride, it was a so-so read.
Notable Scene:
“You are of the warbloods. Brienne is of the firebloods,” Marcus explained. “There will be others-waterblood, stormblood, earthblood, sunblood, and beastblood.
FTC Advisory: Signet/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rising Fire. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
January 8, 2024
Picked this up on a “stuff your kindle” out of curiosity- I think historic romances just aren’t my thing.. not enough washing happening and I can’t stop hyper fixating on that
Read
March 2, 2024idek what i was reading. too sick to comprehend anything going on
March 19, 2015
I saw this one and was thinking 'oh, I haven't read fantasy for a while and this looks good'. And yes indeedy it was just that for the most part, but the thing is...it was more historical paranormal than anything though it has a fantasy flavor too. I wasn't disappointed because Scotland in the time of King Alexander is always a hit. Give me some serious intrigue, powerful elemental magic, promise of battle and medieval romance and you've definitely got my attention.
This book is the beginning of a shiny new series that makes the assumption that the old Celtic gods were real, that they trapped one of their own who would destroy the world in fire and chaos, and that all of them including the raging goddess imprisoned passed down their gifts to human descendants to protect their interests before they retreated to give way to humanity ruling the world.
The story begins when the goddess of fire decides that the time has come to end her imprisonment and begin her reign of terror. As she sets her plans in motion, this has a domino effect for she is not the only one who would put plans in place. Just as evil rises so do those who would oppose her. The druids receive prophecy that sets them on a journey away from their misty isle to find those who would have the power to seal the Stone Circle gates. The king of the land is uneasy by something he has seen on a visit to one of his trusted advisers and has his most trusted knight journey to investigate and end any threats. Little does the knight know that the truth he seeks will push him beyond belief and lead him to a girl filled with old elemental magic that calls to something similar inside him. The girl is the key as she must decided who she truly is and where her loyalties lie. All the players converge as if moved into place by some cosmic chess player.
In essence, this book is the set up for the series and very much feels like it too. It moves forward at a ponderous pace most of the time. I didn't skip, but I confess that I was strongly tempted. The thing is, the story is full of good stuff, but the promise I was seeing right away when I grasped where the story was going had me impatient for it to get on with it. I love the worldbuilding using Celtic mythology, love the time period, love the conflict, and that hero, and there are many interesting characters.
The hero, William, has an interesting past. He is the king's bastard child though he was given legitimacy when his mother was married to a powerful noble of the de Brus family. He is acknowledged in private and his true parentage is a not so well-kept secret. He was forced to grow up strong, fierce and skilled to protect himself and prove himself. In spite of his heritage, he is loyal to his father and he is very honorable. He holds his passion in check and is gentle and protective of Brienne.
The heroine, Brienne was on the mild side for my tastes. She's been raised in a little village by the blacksmith and his wife, but she suspects who her real father is. She dreams of big things and isn't satisfied with her life. I couldn't tell if she was hopelessly naive, resigned to her fate or just wanted something so badly that she ignored reality to believe a dream. The story spent a long time drawing out her story so that much of the book focused on her. Not that this is a bad thing, but she didn't do much for me and I was impatient for her. She chooses to ignore fact so that she can have her fairytale life. Part of the suspense was knowing how this would factor in to the war that is building between those who stand against the goddess' return and the ones who would free her.
I was actually very taken with the villain of the piece. Now there is a character with passion, shades of gray, layers, and power. He makes me wonder who he would have been if his early life with his father hadn't molded him into the tool of the goddess that he is. I'm intrigued by his storyline.
I'm not sure what to say about the romance because it was just okay for me. I'm struggling to describe why it was only moderately pleasing. The best I can figure out is that the all the other stuff going on overshadowed it a bit and I wanted more balance- evidence of a relationship. There is a fated mate idea going on and I think the story relied heavily on that to carry the romance so the characters could focus on other stuff. For must of the book, the characters have an attraction. There are a couple passionate scenes, but I wouldn't describe it as a steamy romance though its not exactly sweet. So somewhere in between?
Anyway, overall, the book was a decent start and left me eager to continue with the series as the heroic band pushes forward to keep thwarting the evil goddess. Even though this felt more like a historical paranormal romance, I would say light fantasy romance fans might like it too.
My thanks to Penguin Group and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the beginning of a shiny new series that makes the assumption that the old Celtic gods were real, that they trapped one of their own who would destroy the world in fire and chaos, and that all of them including the raging goddess imprisoned passed down their gifts to human descendants to protect their interests before they retreated to give way to humanity ruling the world.
The story begins when the goddess of fire decides that the time has come to end her imprisonment and begin her reign of terror. As she sets her plans in motion, this has a domino effect for she is not the only one who would put plans in place. Just as evil rises so do those who would oppose her. The druids receive prophecy that sets them on a journey away from their misty isle to find those who would have the power to seal the Stone Circle gates. The king of the land is uneasy by something he has seen on a visit to one of his trusted advisers and has his most trusted knight journey to investigate and end any threats. Little does the knight know that the truth he seeks will push him beyond belief and lead him to a girl filled with old elemental magic that calls to something similar inside him. The girl is the key as she must decided who she truly is and where her loyalties lie. All the players converge as if moved into place by some cosmic chess player.
In essence, this book is the set up for the series and very much feels like it too. It moves forward at a ponderous pace most of the time. I didn't skip, but I confess that I was strongly tempted. The thing is, the story is full of good stuff, but the promise I was seeing right away when I grasped where the story was going had me impatient for it to get on with it. I love the worldbuilding using Celtic mythology, love the time period, love the conflict, and that hero, and there are many interesting characters.
The hero, William, has an interesting past. He is the king's bastard child though he was given legitimacy when his mother was married to a powerful noble of the de Brus family. He is acknowledged in private and his true parentage is a not so well-kept secret. He was forced to grow up strong, fierce and skilled to protect himself and prove himself. In spite of his heritage, he is loyal to his father and he is very honorable. He holds his passion in check and is gentle and protective of Brienne.
The heroine, Brienne was on the mild side for my tastes. She's been raised in a little village by the blacksmith and his wife, but she suspects who her real father is. She dreams of big things and isn't satisfied with her life. I couldn't tell if she was hopelessly naive, resigned to her fate or just wanted something so badly that she ignored reality to believe a dream. The story spent a long time drawing out her story so that much of the book focused on her. Not that this is a bad thing, but she didn't do much for me and I was impatient for her. She chooses to ignore fact so that she can have her fairytale life. Part of the suspense was knowing how this would factor in to the war that is building between those who stand against the goddess' return and the ones who would free her.
I was actually very taken with the villain of the piece. Now there is a character with passion, shades of gray, layers, and power. He makes me wonder who he would have been if his early life with his father hadn't molded him into the tool of the goddess that he is. I'm intrigued by his storyline.
I'm not sure what to say about the romance because it was just okay for me. I'm struggling to describe why it was only moderately pleasing. The best I can figure out is that the all the other stuff going on overshadowed it a bit and I wanted more balance- evidence of a relationship. There is a fated mate idea going on and I think the story relied heavily on that to carry the romance so the characters could focus on other stuff. For must of the book, the characters have an attraction. There are a couple passionate scenes, but I wouldn't describe it as a steamy romance though its not exactly sweet. So somewhere in between?
Anyway, overall, the book was a decent start and left me eager to continue with the series as the heroic band pushes forward to keep thwarting the evil goddess. Even though this felt more like a historical paranormal romance, I would say light fantasy romance fans might like it too.
My thanks to Penguin Group and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2015
WOW! WOW! WOW! If allowed I would give this book a bazillion stars as it was fast paced story and superbly written just a spectacular read! It has every element you could want in a great read so hold on to your seat as you are about to go on one winding and curving amazing ride! This is book one in Stone Circle series Rising Fire which is different from Terri's Highlander series yet just as brilliant if not more so. I was hooked immediately and if you are a fan of mythology like myself you will absolutely love this book as it touched both my heart and soul.
It's the story of seven bloodlines surrounded by Seven Gods and how one like angel Lucfer in a sense could not handle all the power for goodness and fell from grace. This was the supreme goddess Chaela who had to be contained as it is not so easy to remove and exterminate an evil Goddess. Also book is about when the human people believed in the old Gods and when they no longer believed in the old Gods only their one Christian God. It's also the story of good versus evil as well as a soul binding love story. The story of fireblood and warblood that is total electrical in a sense as their connection is immediately fused as soon as they come into contact.
The heroine of this book is the beautiful Brienne of Yester, whom always could manipulate fire,yet suddenly her powers are out of control and she wants to know why? As her power peeks her quiet life as she knows it is changed forever! So shall she open Pandora's box and find out about her fire power origins or leave it be. Sometimes not knowing seemed safer to the old quiet Brienne but she knows something is changing and after meeting William she needs to know why. Yet will William be her savior or killer?
The hero of this book is the good and honorable knight William de Brus who is sent by his King to look into these rumours of Brienne of Yester who might be related to evil powerful fire goddess Chalea. You can feel the chemistry and attraction between William and my heart really went out to him when he realized his beloved Brienne has the powers that he is sent to investigate and if found to exterminate! Talk about electricity no pun intended!
Poor William is between a rock and a hard place and with such a dilemma. Now that he found his soul mate and love of his life what can this honorable and good man do whom will not betray his beloved King either. A man he has always honored and respected and loved like a father or family member.
Of course there is the Villain Lord Hugh whom is nothing but someone to do Godess Chalea's bidding and is using as her minion and release from her prison and regain her powers to destroy to world! Of course Lord Hugh is so evil and diluted and believes all the lies and empty promises that Chalea makes as well.t
Of course this evil Goddess Chaela needs to use the good Brienne to do her evil bidding after all they are related by bloodlines. As Chaela needs to be released from her imprisonment so she can once again open portals and regain the evil dark power of the world she once had no matter what the cost. It's a story of good versus evil but can love conquer all?
If you are like me you will want to reread this fabulous book in to recheck clues you might have missed during your first read.Yes Rising Fire by Terri Brisbin is that spectacular a book that will stay with you long after you have read it! I truly can't wait for book 2 in the Stone Circle Series it is a book to be devoured!
*Also look for Terri's next Highlander book called "Stolen by The Highlander", book one in A Highland Feuding series, to be released in print on 3/17/20015 and in Kindle on 4/1/2015. Pre-orders are also available.
It's the story of seven bloodlines surrounded by Seven Gods and how one like angel Lucfer in a sense could not handle all the power for goodness and fell from grace. This was the supreme goddess Chaela who had to be contained as it is not so easy to remove and exterminate an evil Goddess. Also book is about when the human people believed in the old Gods and when they no longer believed in the old Gods only their one Christian God. It's also the story of good versus evil as well as a soul binding love story. The story of fireblood and warblood that is total electrical in a sense as their connection is immediately fused as soon as they come into contact.
The heroine of this book is the beautiful Brienne of Yester, whom always could manipulate fire,yet suddenly her powers are out of control and she wants to know why? As her power peeks her quiet life as she knows it is changed forever! So shall she open Pandora's box and find out about her fire power origins or leave it be. Sometimes not knowing seemed safer to the old quiet Brienne but she knows something is changing and after meeting William she needs to know why. Yet will William be her savior or killer?
The hero of this book is the good and honorable knight William de Brus who is sent by his King to look into these rumours of Brienne of Yester who might be related to evil powerful fire goddess Chalea. You can feel the chemistry and attraction between William and my heart really went out to him when he realized his beloved Brienne has the powers that he is sent to investigate and if found to exterminate! Talk about electricity no pun intended!
Poor William is between a rock and a hard place and with such a dilemma. Now that he found his soul mate and love of his life what can this honorable and good man do whom will not betray his beloved King either. A man he has always honored and respected and loved like a father or family member.
Of course there is the Villain Lord Hugh whom is nothing but someone to do Godess Chalea's bidding and is using as her minion and release from her prison and regain her powers to destroy to world! Of course Lord Hugh is so evil and diluted and believes all the lies and empty promises that Chalea makes as well.t
Of course this evil Goddess Chaela needs to use the good Brienne to do her evil bidding after all they are related by bloodlines. As Chaela needs to be released from her imprisonment so she can once again open portals and regain the evil dark power of the world she once had no matter what the cost. It's a story of good versus evil but can love conquer all?
If you are like me you will want to reread this fabulous book in to recheck clues you might have missed during your first read.Yes Rising Fire by Terri Brisbin is that spectacular a book that will stay with you long after you have read it! I truly can't wait for book 2 in the Stone Circle Series it is a book to be devoured!
*Also look for Terri's next Highlander book called "Stolen by The Highlander", book one in A Highland Feuding series, to be released in print on 3/17/20015 and in Kindle on 4/1/2015. Pre-orders are also available.
March 7, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Contains mild spoilers
Rising Fire is the first book in the Stone Circles series and takes place in 1286 A.D. Scotland, a time when Christianity has firmly taken hold and the ancient gods and goddesses have been cast aside by all but the most secret of followers. Years before, Chaela, the goddess of fire and chaos, was entombed by her fellow deities, the gods and goddesses of war, healing, earth, water, and beasts. She waits impatiently for her time to rise again waiting for the right ancestor to free her.
Brienne of Yester may prove to be the key. She has been raised as the village blacksmith’s daughter, but she is truly the cast off illegitimate offspring of the local ruler, Lord Hugh de Gifford. She has emerging powers of her own, and her fire manipulating abilities soon draw the attention of the Hugh, and he brings her into his home as his own. Meanwhile, rumors about Hugh and his potential use of dark magic have made their way to the king. William de Brus, a knight who is the king’s son, embarks to investigate the claims.
William is drawn to and transfixed by Brienne from the first moment he sees her and feels compelled to protect her. However, as Brienne’s powers are growing, something is going on with William as well. The more they discover about the ancient gods, the more perilous the situation becomes. They strive to stop Hugh from releasing Chaela all while trying to keep everyone safe and falling in love, even though they should be on opposite sides of the fight.
Rising Fire does not end with a cliff hanger, but it does end without tying up loose ends. I am confident that all will be resolved in future installments. I found it to be more of a fantasy tale than historical romance, although Brienne and William’s relationship is the focus of the story. I like both Brienne and William and think they will make a formidable team facing evil. The members of William’s entourage and the priests and seer added variety and texture, and I was disappointed when some of the minor characters met their end. Scotland was an interesting backdrop and a character in itself.
I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading more of this ancient world. I recommend Rising Fire to fans of dark magic with a good versus evil battle, those who like romance with their fantasy, and those interested in thirteenth century Scotland.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Contains mild spoilers
Rising Fire is the first book in the Stone Circles series and takes place in 1286 A.D. Scotland, a time when Christianity has firmly taken hold and the ancient gods and goddesses have been cast aside by all but the most secret of followers. Years before, Chaela, the goddess of fire and chaos, was entombed by her fellow deities, the gods and goddesses of war, healing, earth, water, and beasts. She waits impatiently for her time to rise again waiting for the right ancestor to free her.
Brienne of Yester may prove to be the key. She has been raised as the village blacksmith’s daughter, but she is truly the cast off illegitimate offspring of the local ruler, Lord Hugh de Gifford. She has emerging powers of her own, and her fire manipulating abilities soon draw the attention of the Hugh, and he brings her into his home as his own. Meanwhile, rumors about Hugh and his potential use of dark magic have made their way to the king. William de Brus, a knight who is the king’s son, embarks to investigate the claims.
William is drawn to and transfixed by Brienne from the first moment he sees her and feels compelled to protect her. However, as Brienne’s powers are growing, something is going on with William as well. The more they discover about the ancient gods, the more perilous the situation becomes. They strive to stop Hugh from releasing Chaela all while trying to keep everyone safe and falling in love, even though they should be on opposite sides of the fight.
Rising Fire does not end with a cliff hanger, but it does end without tying up loose ends. I am confident that all will be resolved in future installments. I found it to be more of a fantasy tale than historical romance, although Brienne and William’s relationship is the focus of the story. I like both Brienne and William and think they will make a formidable team facing evil. The members of William’s entourage and the priests and seer added variety and texture, and I was disappointed when some of the minor characters met their end. Scotland was an interesting backdrop and a character in itself.
I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading more of this ancient world. I recommend Rising Fire to fans of dark magic with a good versus evil battle, those who like romance with their fantasy, and those interested in thirteenth century Scotland.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
February 10, 2023
The heroine, an innocent and naïve young girl with the power to summon and control fire, has always longed for the understanding of her powers. As the bastard daughter of the lord of their county, she's always known that he would one day come for her. Before that day came, she meets the hero on the road.
He's been charged by his father the king to spy on the lord of the county as he's accused of witchcraft and being in league with the devil. Though the hero doesn't believe any of the tales, he accepts the mission in a bid to earn back his family’s lands. He's instantly grabbed by the heroine and becomes close to obsessed with her beauty. Despite vowing to her adoptive father and his men not to pursue the peasant girl, he finds every excuse to meet up with her and be near her.
One meeting he discovers her playing with her fire but nothing ever becomes of it. Soon the lord summons his daughter and begins to train her powers.
If this review is somewhat boring and predictable, I couldn't understand but the review matches the book. It was so dull and lifeless. I had hopes, that after the first initial meeting between the two characters to expect a passionate love affair but it was anything but. They meet multiple times in the woods but only for a moment at a time and that spark between them never really became a flame. I found the girl to be hopelessly useless and naïve to a fault. Despite the fact that she lives in the time of the witch hunts in Scotland, she makes to attempt to hide her abilities and though the villagers know what she can do, no one really cares. Also, she really is an idiot for even thinking that her father will help her with her powers, I mean she's scared to death of him for the entire book yet actually seeks him out for her training.
PS, she doesn't even need any training as she appears to be in complete control of her powers anyway. I was completely disenchanted by this book. It's listed as a fantasy but it really felt like a cheap young adult knockoff. Things just sort of smushed into each other and facts were tossed into the fray without seeming to have any real connection to the overall story. I won't be buying the rest of the series.
He's been charged by his father the king to spy on the lord of the county as he's accused of witchcraft and being in league with the devil. Though the hero doesn't believe any of the tales, he accepts the mission in a bid to earn back his family’s lands. He's instantly grabbed by the heroine and becomes close to obsessed with her beauty. Despite vowing to her adoptive father and his men not to pursue the peasant girl, he finds every excuse to meet up with her and be near her.
One meeting he discovers her playing with her fire but nothing ever becomes of it. Soon the lord summons his daughter and begins to train her powers.
If this review is somewhat boring and predictable, I couldn't understand but the review matches the book. It was so dull and lifeless. I had hopes, that after the first initial meeting between the two characters to expect a passionate love affair but it was anything but. They meet multiple times in the woods but only for a moment at a time and that spark between them never really became a flame. I found the girl to be hopelessly useless and naïve to a fault. Despite the fact that she lives in the time of the witch hunts in Scotland, she makes to attempt to hide her abilities and though the villagers know what she can do, no one really cares. Also, she really is an idiot for even thinking that her father will help her with her powers, I mean she's scared to death of him for the entire book yet actually seeks him out for her training.
PS, she doesn't even need any training as she appears to be in complete control of her powers anyway. I was completely disenchanted by this book. It's listed as a fantasy but it really felt like a cheap young adult knockoff. Things just sort of smushed into each other and facts were tossed into the fray without seeming to have any real connection to the overall story. I won't be buying the rest of the series.
January 25, 2016
"Shhhhhh," she urged, placing her finger over his lips. "Kiss me. Kiss me now." And, like a storm, he did.
I bought this book because I was gifted book two in this series in exchange for an honest review and I wanted to read these in order. I am so glad I enjoyed it! Hopefully, I will like the second one just as much, if not better. I have an obsession when it comes to anything Celtic or having to do with Scotland and Ireland, which makes this book a good choice for me.
This first book takes place in medieval Scotland. Sir William is sent by the king to confirm rumors about Lord Hugh. Rumors of spell casting and convorting with demons. William stops some villagers to ask them if Lord Hugh is at his castle. That is when he meets Brienne who tells him Lord Hugh is away, forcing him and his men to camp out until his return. William can't get the blacksmith's daughter off his mind. There was just something about Brienne that made him want to protect her and he finds it difficult to stay away.
William was everything a knight should be: selfless, honorable, and loyal. Even when he was discovering his real heritage he just accepted it for what it was and knew he had a responsibility to see it through. Brienne was feisty and not afraid to push past the limits when it came to Lord Hugh. I really enjoyed the story line and how creative Terri Brisbin was with the power of the bloodlines. I would like to see this book made into a movie, there would be some amazing visuals!
If you like some romance splashed into your fantasy, then let me suggest Rising Fire.
I bought this book because I was gifted book two in this series in exchange for an honest review and I wanted to read these in order. I am so glad I enjoyed it! Hopefully, I will like the second one just as much, if not better. I have an obsession when it comes to anything Celtic or having to do with Scotland and Ireland, which makes this book a good choice for me.
This first book takes place in medieval Scotland. Sir William is sent by the king to confirm rumors about Lord Hugh. Rumors of spell casting and convorting with demons. William stops some villagers to ask them if Lord Hugh is at his castle. That is when he meets Brienne who tells him Lord Hugh is away, forcing him and his men to camp out until his return. William can't get the blacksmith's daughter off his mind. There was just something about Brienne that made him want to protect her and he finds it difficult to stay away.
William was everything a knight should be: selfless, honorable, and loyal. Even when he was discovering his real heritage he just accepted it for what it was and knew he had a responsibility to see it through. Brienne was feisty and not afraid to push past the limits when it came to Lord Hugh. I really enjoyed the story line and how creative Terri Brisbin was with the power of the bloodlines. I would like to see this book made into a movie, there would be some amazing visuals!
If you like some romance splashed into your fantasy, then let me suggest Rising Fire.
April 25, 2022
Terri Brisbin’s “Rising Fire” (Warriors of the Stone Circles Book 1) was a wonderful way to start a new series. I was captivated by this historical fantasy filled with Celtic Gods and Goddesses and their descendants. I’ve enjoyed her medieval stories so much in the past.
This a well written book that takes place in Late winter, AD 1286 in Scotland. Christianity has come to Scotland and the old gods and goddesses are seldom heard from anymore. But their influence remains unbeknownst at first to their descendants but there in case they ever need them. And the time is coming. There’s so much happening in this book.
While I usually don’t read fantasy books this one is somewhat different. With a larger theme at play here and humanity’s destruction on the horizon we have our handsome hero, William de Brus, illegitimate son of King Alexander III and heroine, Brienne of Yester to find a way to save the day.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Since this is the first in the series there’s a lot to set up in the story. It was wonderfully imaginative and well executed. I loved how the relationship between the main characters just sizzled. I did however look for a more epic HEA. All in all this is a fantastic story.
Thank you Ms. Brisbin for this exciting love story.
This a well written book that takes place in Late winter, AD 1286 in Scotland. Christianity has come to Scotland and the old gods and goddesses are seldom heard from anymore. But their influence remains unbeknownst at first to their descendants but there in case they ever need them. And the time is coming. There’s so much happening in this book.
While I usually don’t read fantasy books this one is somewhat different. With a larger theme at play here and humanity’s destruction on the horizon we have our handsome hero, William de Brus, illegitimate son of King Alexander III and heroine, Brienne of Yester to find a way to save the day.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Since this is the first in the series there’s a lot to set up in the story. It was wonderfully imaginative and well executed. I loved how the relationship between the main characters just sizzled. I did however look for a more epic HEA. All in all this is a fantastic story.
Thank you Ms. Brisbin for this exciting love story.
March 7, 2022
Wow! From the first pages of The Legend, Brisbin's writing captured my attention. She took her time building the various storylines and eventually integrating them. Although I was impatient to find out what would happen next at each turn, the depth of the storylines she weaved made me slow down and appreciate the unraveling rather than rushing through reading. As soon as I finished reading this book, I immediately tried to search my library and reading apps for the next book in this series, desperate to find out what happens next! Highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2022
This is a beautiful love story and a great start to a new series. It's a story of good vs evil. You will find action, suspense, adventures, danger, evil, history, magic, innocence, first love, and romance. This book got even better as I read through it and by the end of it I knew I had just finished an excellent book. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received a free copy of this book for a honest review. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys historical romance, fantasy, medieval romance or good against evil books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book for a honest review. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys historical romance, fantasy, medieval romance or good against evil books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 13, 2022
Scotland, old gods and goddesses, war and romance
A great start to this series. This is all about an ancient war between gods and goddesses that continues through time as their powers are taken on by new people. Brianna and William are great characters and meld together perfectly as a couple. The wold building is exceptional and the characters believable.
Pick this one up as well as the others in the series for a satisfying read - but be forewarned, it is the first in the series. The war is far from over.
A great start to this series. This is all about an ancient war between gods and goddesses that continues through time as their powers are taken on by new people. Brianna and William are great characters and meld together perfectly as a couple. The wold building is exceptional and the characters believable.
Pick this one up as well as the others in the series for a satisfying read - but be forewarned, it is the first in the series. The war is far from over.
August 13, 2023
The story is set in 13th century Scotland, where a powerful lord from a long line of magic fire-wielders seeks to release the goddess of chaos. The romance between the lord's innocent daughter and the king's son is fast and almost primal, two people violently fated to be together. The characters are well developed and have a lot of potential for growth later in the series. One thing I loved is that nobody needed "saving" - no damsel in distress here. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of writing and I will definitely be reading more of the series!
January 21, 2025
I liked this one! It was a fast moving story focused on Celtic lore. I’m conflicted because it felt slow at the beginning but about halfway through, it really picked up and I just feel like it moved a bit too fast? Like it kinda seemed like it was going to be a slow burn and then all of a sudden they are married. I was thinking that maybe for a stand alone that’s the speed for a romantasy bc I haven’t read many stand alones. But it’s actually the first in a series. Idk it was fun tho!
February 10, 2018
DNF I tried I really did. But writing was too simple, it just dragged. Characters never came alive. Author made heroine borderline simple, where’s her agency her spunk?! Just fell back on innocent virgin trope. Too much telling and not enough showing. Could have been something.
June 30, 2024
2.5 honestly; This wasn’t the best book I have read. Everything was thrown at you, and a lot of the paragraphs felt like they were repeats. Especially last sentences of paragraphs. I feel the concept was neat, just not well executed.
October 25, 2024
Unforgettable!
Ms. Brisbin weaves a forgettable tale of intrigue and love, intertwined with the unseemly delicate balance between good and evil. A great first book in this new series!
Ms. Brisbin weaves a forgettable tale of intrigue and love, intertwined with the unseemly delicate balance between good and evil. A great first book in this new series!
March 17, 2019
A very good start to a new fantasy series. Magic, gods, EVIL, faith and a love story make a good story. I have the next two and will continue immediately.
Want to read
October 8, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/8/2022)! 🎁
June 13, 2023
3.5 stars
October 11, 2023
Brilliant storyline
Well written with strong make and female characters. Love, betrayal, mystery and fighting as well as well written love scenes.
Well written with strong make and female characters. Love, betrayal, mystery and fighting as well as well written love scenes.
dnf
December 27, 2023DNF at 12% on page 29.
Reason: “His power, he knew, was awesome to watch, which was why he exercised it before his subjects.”
I just can’t take this line seriously when the setting for this book is 13th century fantasy Scotland.
Reason: “His power, he knew, was awesome to watch, which was why he exercised it before his subjects.”
I just can’t take this line seriously when the setting for this book is 13th century fantasy Scotland.
March 22, 2015
A fantasy romance that will enrapture you from the first page. Set in Scotland in the late 1200s, we are introduced to a world like most. But the difference is that there’s something otherworldly happening that has been set in motion centuries ago. A happening that will bring people together set for a purpose higher than themselves. It will also bring together a man and a woman who would, in a normal world, never meet.
Brienne is the daughter of the blacksmith. She spends her days running chores for her father in their village. It’s a simple life, one that brings her purpose, but lately she’s noticed something within herself that she’s both enamored and frightened by. She does not know what it means or how it is brought to be, but she does know that she must keep it a secret. And on a normal day when she happens to come across strangers entering their land, she’s struck by her attraction and magnetism to one of the strangers. He calls to her, a deep part of her, and she cannot escape it.
“When the threat is revealed, the sleepers awaken, A Warrior seeks the truth while Fire burns away the deception. Begin in the East, then North, then South, then West. . . Find the true gate among the rest.”
William is a knight for his king. He is on a mission on behalf of the king to find out what is happening from a neighboring kingdom. Something strange is happening, and it has to do with Lord Hugh. On the entering to Lord Hugh’s kingdom, he is infatuated with a young woman he meets on the side of the road. A woman, who to him, seems otherworldly…and magical. No one else can see it but him, and he spends his time and thoughts on seeing her again. It’s when they’re together, that things seem right. But he also notices something in him, too. He is afraid to believe in these things, because it was what brought him here in the first place.
“On the morrow, he’d said.
On the morrow, he’d tempted.
On the morrow, he’d promised.
On the morrow. . . she feared.”
I thought that this novel was a good fantasy romance with a much thought out storyline that caught me on the very first page of the prologue. The characters and the world were built with care. I did encounter a few minor issues with the story dragging slowly in some areas, which is pretty common with fantasy novels since there’s so much world-building. There were some transitions that would have been better with page breaks rather than just a continuation. But overall I did enjoy Brienne and Will’s love story, as well as the building of the main story that will continue on in the next novels. One hurdle has been accomplished, but there are many more for this couple, their group, and the couples yet to be brought together and into the story. I look forward to meeting them, and seeing the group expand to fight the bigger evil.
**Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion**
Brienne is the daughter of the blacksmith. She spends her days running chores for her father in their village. It’s a simple life, one that brings her purpose, but lately she’s noticed something within herself that she’s both enamored and frightened by. She does not know what it means or how it is brought to be, but she does know that she must keep it a secret. And on a normal day when she happens to come across strangers entering their land, she’s struck by her attraction and magnetism to one of the strangers. He calls to her, a deep part of her, and she cannot escape it.
“When the threat is revealed, the sleepers awaken, A Warrior seeks the truth while Fire burns away the deception. Begin in the East, then North, then South, then West. . . Find the true gate among the rest.”
William is a knight for his king. He is on a mission on behalf of the king to find out what is happening from a neighboring kingdom. Something strange is happening, and it has to do with Lord Hugh. On the entering to Lord Hugh’s kingdom, he is infatuated with a young woman he meets on the side of the road. A woman, who to him, seems otherworldly…and magical. No one else can see it but him, and he spends his time and thoughts on seeing her again. It’s when they’re together, that things seem right. But he also notices something in him, too. He is afraid to believe in these things, because it was what brought him here in the first place.
“On the morrow, he’d said.
On the morrow, he’d tempted.
On the morrow, he’d promised.
On the morrow. . . she feared.”
I thought that this novel was a good fantasy romance with a much thought out storyline that caught me on the very first page of the prologue. The characters and the world were built with care. I did encounter a few minor issues with the story dragging slowly in some areas, which is pretty common with fantasy novels since there’s so much world-building. There were some transitions that would have been better with page breaks rather than just a continuation. But overall I did enjoy Brienne and Will’s love story, as well as the building of the main story that will continue on in the next novels. One hurdle has been accomplished, but there are many more for this couple, their group, and the couples yet to be brought together and into the story. I look forward to meeting them, and seeing the group expand to fight the bigger evil.
**Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion**
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