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Fuel to the Fire #1
Fuel to the Fire
Alternate cover edition can be found here.
Having spent her entire life disguised as a boy to avoid the risk of being forced into sexual slavery, fifteen year old Davran finds herself transported to a world thought to be legend. With sunlight, an abundance of food and people that trust, this world is everything her home is not. She could be happy, she could disclose the love she feels for Ronyn (the dragon trainer’s son), but when Hesperus (the Keeper-of-Knowledge) discovers her, she may have to return to a world of misery where even suicide is no escape and where the most frightening monster is not the dragons or the razor-hounds, but the tyrannical ruler, Saurian.
IndiePENdents seal of approval: http://indiependents.org/
Having spent her entire life disguised as a boy to avoid the risk of being forced into sexual slavery, fifteen year old Davran finds herself transported to a world thought to be legend. With sunlight, an abundance of food and people that trust, this world is everything her home is not. She could be happy, she could disclose the love she feels for Ronyn (the dragon trainer’s son), but when Hesperus (the Keeper-of-Knowledge) discovers her, she may have to return to a world of misery where even suicide is no escape and where the most frightening monster is not the dragons or the razor-hounds, but the tyrannical ruler, Saurian.
IndiePENdents seal of approval: http://indiependents.org/
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
107 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
David Staniforth
8 books221 followersI’ve been inventing stories as far back as I can remember (mostly to keep me out of trouble), but began writing seriously after finishing an English studies BA as a mature student. My writing is influenced by so many things: a love of reading all genres; films; music; raising my two daughters; hill walking; and much, much more. I tend to take all I know, throw it into a setting and see what comes out.
My first four books were all fantasy, but then a new story entered my mind that insisted on being a psychological thriller. Just like raising children, a story insists on being what it was always meant to be: Characters will behave as they want, and plots will demand to go in a certain direction. All I do as an author is transfer their antics into writing and then release them into the world to see what readers make of them.
I have more fantasy tales to tell and more thrillers too. I can’t promise all readers that they will like my stories, but I can promise one thing: I will never publish anything that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed myself.
My first four books were all fantasy, but then a new story entered my mind that insisted on being a psychological thriller. Just like raising children, a story insists on being what it was always meant to be: Characters will behave as they want, and plots will demand to go in a certain direction. All I do as an author is transfer their antics into writing and then release them into the world to see what readers make of them.
I have more fantasy tales to tell and more thrillers too. I can’t promise all readers that they will like my stories, but I can promise one thing: I will never publish anything that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed myself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 14, 2015
Free on Amazon!
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US - http://www.amazon.com/Fuel-Fire-David...
Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk
“One day, my girl, you will reach for rainbows.”
This was fantasy story with dragons, prophecies, and a girl dressed as a boy.
I liked Davran, and I liked how she strove to be the best she could be. She spent so long pretending to be a boy, and it was slightly worrying that she could be so easily found out!
The storyline in this had battles, and dragons, and alternate worlds, but this was a proper fantasy novel, and as I’ve said before, I find it really difficult to keep track of fantasy novels, and I did get pretty confused with this one. That being said, I have found a new fantasy series to recommend to my father-in-law, who absolutely loves this sort of thing!
"A dragon trainer was sent for. He nearly fainted on the spot when he saw it was a black dragon."
My favourite part in this story though, and I will put this in spoiler tags for anyone who wants to know
The ending to this left us with no doubt that this wasn’t the end of the story, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with it. As this book is currently free on Amazon I’m going to send it to my father-in-laws kindle though, because he will love it!
6 out of 10
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
US - http://www.amazon.com/Fuel-Fire-David...
Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk
“One day, my girl, you will reach for rainbows.”
This was fantasy story with dragons, prophecies, and a girl dressed as a boy.
I liked Davran, and I liked how she strove to be the best she could be. She spent so long pretending to be a boy, and it was slightly worrying that she could be so easily found out!
The storyline in this had battles, and dragons, and alternate worlds, but this was a proper fantasy novel, and as I’ve said before, I find it really difficult to keep track of fantasy novels, and I did get pretty confused with this one. That being said, I have found a new fantasy series to recommend to my father-in-law, who absolutely loves this sort of thing!
"A dragon trainer was sent for. He nearly fainted on the spot when he saw it was a black dragon."
My favourite part in this story though, and I will put this in spoiler tags for anyone who wants to know
The ending to this left us with no doubt that this wasn’t the end of the story, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with it. As this book is currently free on Amazon I’m going to send it to my father-in-laws kindle though, because he will love it!
6 out of 10
July 14, 2015
Fuel to the Fire is the first installment of David Staniforth’s Fuel to the Fire Trilogy. I am not usually a fantasy fan, but absolutely loved Mr. Staniforth’s most recent novel, Alloria. For that reason I decided to give his first novel a go, and he did not disappoint me!
Fuel to the Fire is the intriguing story of a 15-year-old girl named Davran, who has slipped into a world parallel to her own. Davran’s home world is basically one of evil, where she is forced to pose as a boy in order to avoid a miserable life of servitude. On the other hand, her new world represents all that is good, and the young woman hiding under the disguise of a boy is finally allowed to blossom. Unfortunately, there are signs that the boundary between the two worlds is weakening and there are prophecies that indicate this will not bode well for the world of good. The prophecies also appear to say that Davran must return to her old world and the evil that threatens her there in order for the good world to survive. To make matters worse, the only possible way for Davran to return is by riding a potentially deadly black dragon.
Mr. Staniforth’s trademark prose is succinct, yet exceptionally lush, essentially turning the settings of this novel into beautiful Technicolor imagery. This is a strong point of his writing. He also has outstanding talent for developing strong, colorful characters, which are hard to forget. My favorites in this book are Davran, her father Samaq, her rescuer Brant and the Keeper of Knowledge, Hesperus. I was also amused by little person Khalil and the burrowing “bunyips”.
The plot is a bit darker than his later works and is very suspenseful in places. In addition, there are thrilling moments along the way. I loved the inkling of a potential little romance that may be coming down the road in the next installment of the trilogy. It was also a delight seeing Davran discover pleasures like food, abundant water, frilly dresses and the feeling of femininity offered by the good world.
The only real demerit I can give Fuel to the Fire is that the beginning was just a little slow for me, probably relating to the fact that my favorite genre is thrillers. I know this isn’t fair to Mr. Staniforth, but I also missed not having a Bainberry-type character in this book. Bainberry is a most lovable giant of a man who plays a prominent role in the subsequent Alloria series. For these two reasons, I am rating Fuel a notch lower than the 5-star Alloria books. Since the Alloria novels were written several years later, I actually consider the lower rating for Fuel a positive, as it is reflective of Mr. Staniforth’s growth as an author over the ensuing years.
I recommend Fuel to the Fire not only to all fantasy fans, but also to readers who generally avoid fantasy like me who are open to trying a new genre. Wonderful job, Mr. Staniforth! You actually got me to enjoy your fantasy books. Because you are able to do that, I will definitely read anything and everything you write. For now, I am glad to have the remaining two books of the Fuel to the Fire trilogy to look forward to. Readers, give this author a try. I bet you will be glad you did.
Fuel to the Fire is the intriguing story of a 15-year-old girl named Davran, who has slipped into a world parallel to her own. Davran’s home world is basically one of evil, where she is forced to pose as a boy in order to avoid a miserable life of servitude. On the other hand, her new world represents all that is good, and the young woman hiding under the disguise of a boy is finally allowed to blossom. Unfortunately, there are signs that the boundary between the two worlds is weakening and there are prophecies that indicate this will not bode well for the world of good. The prophecies also appear to say that Davran must return to her old world and the evil that threatens her there in order for the good world to survive. To make matters worse, the only possible way for Davran to return is by riding a potentially deadly black dragon.
Mr. Staniforth’s trademark prose is succinct, yet exceptionally lush, essentially turning the settings of this novel into beautiful Technicolor imagery. This is a strong point of his writing. He also has outstanding talent for developing strong, colorful characters, which are hard to forget. My favorites in this book are Davran, her father Samaq, her rescuer Brant and the Keeper of Knowledge, Hesperus. I was also amused by little person Khalil and the burrowing “bunyips”.
The plot is a bit darker than his later works and is very suspenseful in places. In addition, there are thrilling moments along the way. I loved the inkling of a potential little romance that may be coming down the road in the next installment of the trilogy. It was also a delight seeing Davran discover pleasures like food, abundant water, frilly dresses and the feeling of femininity offered by the good world.
The only real demerit I can give Fuel to the Fire is that the beginning was just a little slow for me, probably relating to the fact that my favorite genre is thrillers. I know this isn’t fair to Mr. Staniforth, but I also missed not having a Bainberry-type character in this book. Bainberry is a most lovable giant of a man who plays a prominent role in the subsequent Alloria series. For these two reasons, I am rating Fuel a notch lower than the 5-star Alloria books. Since the Alloria novels were written several years later, I actually consider the lower rating for Fuel a positive, as it is reflective of Mr. Staniforth’s growth as an author over the ensuing years.
I recommend Fuel to the Fire not only to all fantasy fans, but also to readers who generally avoid fantasy like me who are open to trying a new genre. Wonderful job, Mr. Staniforth! You actually got me to enjoy your fantasy books. Because you are able to do that, I will definitely read anything and everything you write. For now, I am glad to have the remaining two books of the Fuel to the Fire trilogy to look forward to. Readers, give this author a try. I bet you will be glad you did.
June 3, 2013
*claps ferociously* I think Mr Staniforth is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. His fantasy titles have not disappointed me yet!
So as the blurb suggests, this is the story of Davran. Shes a young girl who is just trying to get by in the hateful world she was brought up in. Unfortunately for her, when a girl reaches the magic age, she's taken from her home and forced into being a slave for the evil ruler Saurian. You really feel for her from the very beginning of the book. From the very start she's an extremely three-dimensional character which i find lacking in a lot of young adult novels these days. The author really brings Davran and her father to life, letting you share in their daily struggle.
So, Saurian... what an arse. I so wanted something bad to happen to him, seriously, there are loads awful things i would like to call him *shakes fist*. He's an unbelievable tyrant, in fact I don't think I've ever met such a mean villain before!!! Snake faced miscreants eat your heart out!
I think the disturbing scenes were laid out very well, it didn't overwhelm you with information simply to shock and appall you. It was tastefully done with the right amount of violence to get across the severe brutality of it all.
I have to say, I loved Davran's first impression of the world on the otherside and her innocent point of view. I also loved the moment when she decided to chase the rainbows, beautiful acts of nature through an innocent and unknowing mind. It was also incredibly sweet when she unknowingly gained feelings for Ronyn who is Brant (the dragon trainers) son.
Brant quickly became one of my favourite characters when he quoted a line from my favourite film, Labyrinth. Dont take anything for granted.. how right he is! Extremely fitting for this tale.
There was a real sense of family all the way through the story which was extremely wonderful. You could see the bond Davran had with her father and then also later on with Brant and his family. The story never grew stale and was told from the eyes from various characters, it was wonderful and refreshing. I couldn't put this down till the very end, i just wish it could have been longer. Luckily for me i already have book 2 to read which im very excited about!!
I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers and people who like something a little different. David Staniforth is a wonderful creator of characters and i can never see myself getting tired of what his imagination puts to print. A really well deserved 5 stars from me.
My review can also be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com...
So as the blurb suggests, this is the story of Davran. Shes a young girl who is just trying to get by in the hateful world she was brought up in. Unfortunately for her, when a girl reaches the magic age, she's taken from her home and forced into being a slave for the evil ruler Saurian. You really feel for her from the very beginning of the book. From the very start she's an extremely three-dimensional character which i find lacking in a lot of young adult novels these days. The author really brings Davran and her father to life, letting you share in their daily struggle.
So, Saurian... what an arse. I so wanted something bad to happen to him, seriously, there are loads awful things i would like to call him *shakes fist*. He's an unbelievable tyrant, in fact I don't think I've ever met such a mean villain before!!! Snake faced miscreants eat your heart out!
I think the disturbing scenes were laid out very well, it didn't overwhelm you with information simply to shock and appall you. It was tastefully done with the right amount of violence to get across the severe brutality of it all.
I have to say, I loved Davran's first impression of the world on the otherside and her innocent point of view. I also loved the moment when she decided to chase the rainbows, beautiful acts of nature through an innocent and unknowing mind. It was also incredibly sweet when she unknowingly gained feelings for Ronyn who is Brant (the dragon trainers) son.
Brant quickly became one of my favourite characters when he quoted a line from my favourite film, Labyrinth. Dont take anything for granted.. how right he is! Extremely fitting for this tale.
There was a real sense of family all the way through the story which was extremely wonderful. You could see the bond Davran had with her father and then also later on with Brant and his family. The story never grew stale and was told from the eyes from various characters, it was wonderful and refreshing. I couldn't put this down till the very end, i just wish it could have been longer. Luckily for me i already have book 2 to read which im very excited about!!
I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers and people who like something a little different. David Staniforth is a wonderful creator of characters and i can never see myself getting tired of what his imagination puts to print. A really well deserved 5 stars from me.
My review can also be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com...
January 9, 2013
This is the story of a girl on the brink of womanhood in a world where pretty girls are taken as sexual playthings by the ruler whose taste leans towards torture and murder. Her parents have disguised her as a boy. She makes her way into a parallel world where she finds a more loving environment amongst a family who have historically always been dragon trainers. To prevent evil overtaking both worlds, she has to go back - on a black dragon, the most dangerous.
The story is interesting and imaginative; it's written using some lovely language and I found it very enjoyable. There was some good descriptive writing - I found the dragon fight absolutely gripping and had to grit my own teeth as the dragon's were damaged! There are some characters here with considerable depths - the despotic ruler's assistant; the Keeper, Hesperus, whose role I don't fully understand; the Miller who was once a Dragon Trainer. If you're a lover of a good, imaginative fantasy tale, you'll enjoy this story. There's at least one sequel and I can see it won't be long before I read that too.
The story is interesting and imaginative; it's written using some lovely language and I found it very enjoyable. There was some good descriptive writing - I found the dragon fight absolutely gripping and had to grit my own teeth as the dragon's were damaged! There are some characters here with considerable depths - the despotic ruler's assistant; the Keeper, Hesperus, whose role I don't fully understand; the Miller who was once a Dragon Trainer. If you're a lover of a good, imaginative fantasy tale, you'll enjoy this story. There's at least one sequel and I can see it won't be long before I read that too.
March 16, 2014
Second time reading this piece of awesomeness! :D
Why reach for rainbows when you can dance among the stars?
"Do you know, its very difficult having creatures to care for? Loving can be very painful."
Another buddy read with the amazingly awesome Lily the Novel Nerd! Her review can be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com
I received this book in return for my honest review. Thanks David! :)
This book has a premise that dances on the edge of, well, disturbing. In the world in which Davran, the main character lives in, girls are sold into sexual slavery when they reach puberty. If this wasn't bad enough, they are ruled by a cruel, sadistic ruler named Saurian. Thus far, Davran has escaped that fate by disguising herself as a boy. But when she finds herself transported into a world that is entirely different from her own, she finds that she must rely on her own skills as a person to not only survive...but thrive.
David Staniforth completely won me over with his novel, Alloria. I fell in love with his lush, descriptive writing style and the way he uses description to pull the reader in and push the story forward, rather than drag it down into a level of boring tediousness. So I was not surprised in the least to fall n love with this book as well! Once again, David has spun a golden fantasy tale full of adventure, danger, feisty heroines and dragons! Did I mention dragons? ;) The writing itself was seamless and flowed nicely. The pacing was perfect and didn't trip me up at all, the only thing I would have liked would be for it to have been longer. I didn't want the story to end!
Although the storyline is a bit brutal, I never felt like I was being overwhelmed with violence or aggression. Yes, there are some disturbing scenes, but they are done tastefully, with just enough description to make you feel abhorrence for Saurian's cruelty yet not be drowned in it. It really put things in perspective, because unless there is great danger for the protagonist, you really don't feel that sense of overwhelming fear that everything will turn out okay in the end, which was definitely the case in this book! For me, if I'm on the edge of my seat ready to stop breathing because I'm so worried about the character...well, that to me signifies that I'm reading a good book!
And speaking of the characters...I adored them I think Davran was my favorite, because she was just so headstrong and brave yet had a pure sense of innocence about her that made her truly a delight to read. She didn't feel flat like many of the protagonists tend to be in this type of genre. She was strong and definitely someone to look up to, in my opinion.
I would absolutely without a doubt recommend this book to anyone who loves really well written fantasy books. Although it's technically a young adult book, I feel that it branches out with its content and would be a pleasure to read by someone of any age who enjoys fantasy!
Why reach for rainbows when you can dance among the stars?
"Do you know, its very difficult having creatures to care for? Loving can be very painful."
Another buddy read with the amazingly awesome Lily the Novel Nerd! Her review can be found here: http://lilythenovelnerd.wordpress.com
I received this book in return for my honest review. Thanks David! :)
This book has a premise that dances on the edge of, well, disturbing. In the world in which Davran, the main character lives in, girls are sold into sexual slavery when they reach puberty. If this wasn't bad enough, they are ruled by a cruel, sadistic ruler named Saurian. Thus far, Davran has escaped that fate by disguising herself as a boy. But when she finds herself transported into a world that is entirely different from her own, she finds that she must rely on her own skills as a person to not only survive...but thrive.
David Staniforth completely won me over with his novel, Alloria. I fell in love with his lush, descriptive writing style and the way he uses description to pull the reader in and push the story forward, rather than drag it down into a level of boring tediousness. So I was not surprised in the least to fall n love with this book as well! Once again, David has spun a golden fantasy tale full of adventure, danger, feisty heroines and dragons! Did I mention dragons? ;) The writing itself was seamless and flowed nicely. The pacing was perfect and didn't trip me up at all, the only thing I would have liked would be for it to have been longer. I didn't want the story to end!
Although the storyline is a bit brutal, I never felt like I was being overwhelmed with violence or aggression. Yes, there are some disturbing scenes, but they are done tastefully, with just enough description to make you feel abhorrence for Saurian's cruelty yet not be drowned in it. It really put things in perspective, because unless there is great danger for the protagonist, you really don't feel that sense of overwhelming fear that everything will turn out okay in the end, which was definitely the case in this book! For me, if I'm on the edge of my seat ready to stop breathing because I'm so worried about the character...well, that to me signifies that I'm reading a good book!
And speaking of the characters...I adored them I think Davran was my favorite, because she was just so headstrong and brave yet had a pure sense of innocence about her that made her truly a delight to read. She didn't feel flat like many of the protagonists tend to be in this type of genre. She was strong and definitely someone to look up to, in my opinion.
I would absolutely without a doubt recommend this book to anyone who loves really well written fantasy books. Although it's technically a young adult book, I feel that it branches out with its content and would be a pleasure to read by someone of any age who enjoys fantasy!
August 11, 2017
Review update, August 2017
It always makes happy, when after re-reading a book i really enjoyed, to find out that i still loved it the same way. Knowing how the story will turn out to be did not lessen my enjoyement of it, quite the contrary. I don't always get the chance to re-read one of the books i read recently, but for some time i was in a mood for a good fantasy and i had Davran in the back of my mind. It felt good finding her and her gang again
Thank you very much David M.Staniforth for giving another one of your great books to read :)
This the third book and i gave it 5 well deserved stars, so i'm officially a fan of yours Mr David :)
It's about Davran a girl, who spent her life disguised as a boy to escape becoming a sexual slave for the tyrant, Saurian; that rules her world. She finds herself in another world, thought to be a legend, the exact opposite of the one where she lived, and that's when her adventure begins!
At the beginning, i was mesmerized by these two worlds. Before getting to know each character i loved how these two worlds were painted, they seemed to me so real, at moments at felt like emerging from them every time i put the book away! and that really caught me!
Then, as i started to know the characters i felt drowned more to the story! The family of Brant is obviously my favourite, compassionate, caring, representing the good!!
And, as the end drew nearer i held my breath!! what will happen to Davran and Ronyn, what will happen to the two worlds, why did she came to the world of Ronyn, and after the last page i felt like "come on!!! It can't be over now, i need to read more, to find out what will happen to them!!!"
I recommend this book to my friends, it's a great read!!!
It always makes happy, when after re-reading a book i really enjoyed, to find out that i still loved it the same way. Knowing how the story will turn out to be did not lessen my enjoyement of it, quite the contrary. I don't always get the chance to re-read one of the books i read recently, but for some time i was in a mood for a good fantasy and i had Davran in the back of my mind. It felt good finding her and her gang again
Thank you very much David M.Staniforth for giving another one of your great books to read :)
This the third book and i gave it 5 well deserved stars, so i'm officially a fan of yours Mr David :)
It's about Davran a girl, who spent her life disguised as a boy to escape becoming a sexual slave for the tyrant, Saurian; that rules her world. She finds herself in another world, thought to be a legend, the exact opposite of the one where she lived, and that's when her adventure begins!
At the beginning, i was mesmerized by these two worlds. Before getting to know each character i loved how these two worlds were painted, they seemed to me so real, at moments at felt like emerging from them every time i put the book away! and that really caught me!
Then, as i started to know the characters i felt drowned more to the story! The family of Brant is obviously my favourite, compassionate, caring, representing the good!!
And, as the end drew nearer i held my breath!! what will happen to Davran and Ronyn, what will happen to the two worlds, why did she came to the world of Ronyn, and after the last page i felt like "come on!!! It can't be over now, i need to read more, to find out what will happen to them!!!"
I recommend this book to my friends, it's a great read!!!
February 5, 2015
Fuel to the Fire by David Staniforth is a book that grabs you in the beginning and doesn't relinquish it's grip until the end of the book. This is book 1 of a series with the same name. I like how this author's writing style flows and winds up loose ends. Our heroine is Davran, a 15 year old girl who's living as a boy. Davran gets trapped in a cavein and lands in an alternate world, the opposite of her world. She sees a rainbow over the top of a waterfall. Something she's never seen before ; free flowing water in a river and water falling off the side of a mountain. Davran climbs the hill to reach the waterfall. She drops her knife in the clover. Ronyn helps him/her and his mom Felicity has her take a bath. Davran can't remember the last time she was clean. In the meantime, a black dragon appears. Hermes asks Ronyn father to train him. Read more of this lively adventure for a good read.
January 2, 2015
Why reach for rainbows when you can dance among the stars?
I am embarrassed to admit that this powerful, rich fantasy novel has been sitting patiently in my ereader for many months. Whilst gathering metaphorical dust, I frequently forgot that the book was still there and after such a length of time if you'd asked me what it was supposed to be about, I couldn't tell you. This is made all the worse by the fact that this was given to me in exchange for a review and I cannot apologise enough to the one author I've let down by not reading their book sooner after I'd promised to do so.
Fuel to the Fire is much shorter than most fantasy novels I've read but despite this, it still packs one hell of a punch! One thing I adore is that Staniforth does not baby us with long explanations of the world, why this is like this and that is like that. As a result, you may find yourself fumbling through the first thirty or so pages not sure entirely what was going on until suddenly you sit up and say "wow, this is good!" So if the first few pages don't grab you I highly recommend that you stick with it!
We first see the world through Davran's eyes. Young, a little naive, she watches the brutal games that Saurian puts on for his own pleasure. A dangerous place to visit at her age, for if anyone were to suspect that a girl was hidden beneath the carefully crafted disguise, she would likely be stolen away to become a slave to the evil ruler. Her very life depends on being able to play the part of a young boy flawlessly. I really liked Davran and her father. Their strong relationship was obvious from the start and as characters were very easy to relate to.
The story was excellent at holding my interest. It never dragged or became boring. Staniforth gradually built up an image of the two worlds and the political state within them through a few key characters, most of whom Davran meets later on in the tale. The sensitive topics such as slavery and death were addressed well, without making it the sole focus of the story. Relationships between the characters are one of the key strenths here. I simply adored Ronyn, Davran, Basalt and Khalil to name a few.
I was very impressed by how much the author was able to pack into such a short book without making it seem overdone. Despite having read only a couple of hundred pages, emotionally I have embarked on the beginning of an epic tale and cannot wait to rejoin the characters in the sequel, Ruler's Desire.
If you're looking for a quick fantasty read with maximum imapact, a compelling storyline and fantastic characters then give Fuel to the Fire a try!
I am embarrassed to admit that this powerful, rich fantasy novel has been sitting patiently in my ereader for many months. Whilst gathering metaphorical dust, I frequently forgot that the book was still there and after such a length of time if you'd asked me what it was supposed to be about, I couldn't tell you. This is made all the worse by the fact that this was given to me in exchange for a review and I cannot apologise enough to the one author I've let down by not reading their book sooner after I'd promised to do so.
Fuel to the Fire is much shorter than most fantasy novels I've read but despite this, it still packs one hell of a punch! One thing I adore is that Staniforth does not baby us with long explanations of the world, why this is like this and that is like that. As a result, you may find yourself fumbling through the first thirty or so pages not sure entirely what was going on until suddenly you sit up and say "wow, this is good!" So if the first few pages don't grab you I highly recommend that you stick with it!
We first see the world through Davran's eyes. Young, a little naive, she watches the brutal games that Saurian puts on for his own pleasure. A dangerous place to visit at her age, for if anyone were to suspect that a girl was hidden beneath the carefully crafted disguise, she would likely be stolen away to become a slave to the evil ruler. Her very life depends on being able to play the part of a young boy flawlessly. I really liked Davran and her father. Their strong relationship was obvious from the start and as characters were very easy to relate to.
The story was excellent at holding my interest. It never dragged or became boring. Staniforth gradually built up an image of the two worlds and the political state within them through a few key characters, most of whom Davran meets later on in the tale. The sensitive topics such as slavery and death were addressed well, without making it the sole focus of the story. Relationships between the characters are one of the key strenths here. I simply adored Ronyn, Davran, Basalt and Khalil to name a few.
I was very impressed by how much the author was able to pack into such a short book without making it seem overdone. Despite having read only a couple of hundred pages, emotionally I have embarked on the beginning of an epic tale and cannot wait to rejoin the characters in the sequel, Ruler's Desire.
If you're looking for a quick fantasty read with maximum imapact, a compelling storyline and fantastic characters then give Fuel to the Fire a try!
September 25, 2014
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. When author friend David Staniforth asked me to read and review his book Fuel to the Fire, I accepted.
Davran disguised herself as a boy so she wouldn't be taken by the sex-addicted tyrant Saurian who likes to make girls his sex slaves and torture along with murder them. When Davran and her father go hiking up into the mountains, She ends up trapped in a cave. Stumbling out, she ends up in another world full of dragons and beautiful things. Can she keep her secret hidden and be able to go home? Check this book out for yourself and find out.
This was a pretty good read. I thought the light/dark world was a pretty interesting concept too. If you like dragons and more, you'll enjoy this book.
Davran disguised herself as a boy so she wouldn't be taken by the sex-addicted tyrant Saurian who likes to make girls his sex slaves and torture along with murder them. When Davran and her father go hiking up into the mountains, She ends up trapped in a cave. Stumbling out, she ends up in another world full of dragons and beautiful things. Can she keep her secret hidden and be able to go home? Check this book out for yourself and find out.
This was a pretty good read. I thought the light/dark world was a pretty interesting concept too. If you like dragons and more, you'll enjoy this book.
November 2, 2017
Will have to admit that I was surprised with this one here. I didn't like the way for which this one started out as he didn't flesh out the characters and just jumped right into things. So I felt like I was missing part of the story. Put the book down and moved on read a couple of more and came back to this one telling myself I would finish it no matter what. Turns out that I was surprised at how the book turned out to be really good. And leaves you wanting more and. and so I'm getting more in the next book. Great read
March 9, 2013
I very much enjoyed this fantasy novel, romping through it in a few hours before reading through again more slowly, savouring the details. I had the second book in this series,Ruler's Desire , waiting on my kindle and I was very glad of that; I simply had to know what happened next to Davran, Ronyn and Khalil.
The characters were very well drawn and believable, which is very important to me. I could believe in the characters which allowed me to care about them. I loved the contrasts between the two worlds; the dark world Davran inhabits, filled with fear, and the light, free world Ronyn comes from.
You’d be forgiven for expecting the descriptions of Davran’s world – where young ladies are taken to be concubines for a sadistic ruler – to be unrelentingly dark and disturbing, but I think the author balances it beautifully. Some authors have a tendency to splash shock across every page, desensitising the reader and ruining the effect. That isn’t the case in this book. When scenes of severe brutality are revealed they are done skilfully, and are necessary to the plot, often hinting at awfulness without actually showing the reader, allowing the reader’s imagination to sketch in the fine detail. This is balanced brilliantly with descriptive scenes that are intense and fantastically well realised. The scene where Hesperus trains the black dragon spring to mind as I ponder this, as does the scene where Davran (pretending to be male to escape the awful fate of girls in her world) gets her first “moon blood”.
I often felt that it was about love and life and family enduring through even the worst of circumstances, the changed my mind and decided it was about how hatred always begets more hatred and suffering. I think this is one of those books that I will be able to return to again and again, knowing that I will find a new level to it on each reading.
If a straightforward, well written fantasy with plenty of tension and added dragons is your thing, this is the perfect book for you. If you are looking for something a little deeper, that makes you think and wonder and ask questions of yourself, I think you will enjoy it too.
I’d give this four and a half stars if Goodreads would allow it, and recommend it for readers of 15+
The characters were very well drawn and believable, which is very important to me. I could believe in the characters which allowed me to care about them. I loved the contrasts between the two worlds; the dark world Davran inhabits, filled with fear, and the light, free world Ronyn comes from.
You’d be forgiven for expecting the descriptions of Davran’s world – where young ladies are taken to be concubines for a sadistic ruler – to be unrelentingly dark and disturbing, but I think the author balances it beautifully. Some authors have a tendency to splash shock across every page, desensitising the reader and ruining the effect. That isn’t the case in this book. When scenes of severe brutality are revealed they are done skilfully, and are necessary to the plot, often hinting at awfulness without actually showing the reader, allowing the reader’s imagination to sketch in the fine detail. This is balanced brilliantly with descriptive scenes that are intense and fantastically well realised. The scene where Hesperus trains the black dragon spring to mind as I ponder this, as does the scene where Davran (pretending to be male to escape the awful fate of girls in her world) gets her first “moon blood”.
I often felt that it was about love and life and family enduring through even the worst of circumstances, the changed my mind and decided it was about how hatred always begets more hatred and suffering. I think this is one of those books that I will be able to return to again and again, knowing that I will find a new level to it on each reading.
If a straightforward, well written fantasy with plenty of tension and added dragons is your thing, this is the perfect book for you. If you are looking for something a little deeper, that makes you think and wonder and ask questions of yourself, I think you will enjoy it too.
I’d give this four and a half stars if Goodreads would allow it, and recommend it for readers of 15+
March 31, 2017
Another great book - 2 different worlds - one in shadow & one in the light. A young girl manages to get from one to the other..Now she must return to her world to turn a prophesy into reality. Brilliant!
March 10, 2018
Fabulous
This is any excellent read!! Fast moving and keeps you wanting to know what in is going to happen next. Hard to put down!
This is any excellent read!! Fast moving and keeps you wanting to know what in is going to happen next. Hard to put down!
July 23, 2013
'People will always believe what they see over what they feel. In every case there's always a greater truth than eyesight reveals.'
MY THOUGHTS
I was given a free Kindle copy of this in exchange for a review, and I'd like to thank the Author for the chance to read another one of his brilliant books. I read this book within two days and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I cannot imagine the life that Davran faces in her own world, if her true identity is discovered. Living in a harsh, barren landscape with little food and the fear of Saurian is bad enough, without the added danger of possibly being forced into sexual slavery. As she grows older and more womanly, it becomes increasingly more difficult to pass herself off as a boy, and she must feel like the clock is ticking and it's only a matter of time before she is discovered. Davran has a distinct innocence about her and her thoughts often made me giggle. I especially enjoyed her thoughts about how tasty 'berries of straw' are.
I was reminded of 1984 while reading this book. The people that live in Davran's world are incredibly oppressed, and feel the fear of being watched all the time, as it's said that Saurian has eyes everywhere. The world is described very well; I could imagine the barren, dark and miserable wasteland.
This was a quick and easy read and full of surprises. If you enjoy fast paced, action-packed fantasy stories, then I definitely recommend this.
THE AUTHOR
Thank you again to David Staniforth for giving me a free copy of his book. The next book in this series is called 'Ruler's Desire' and I know that I definitely want to read that too, and see what fate will befall Davran.
MY THOUGHTS
I was given a free Kindle copy of this in exchange for a review, and I'd like to thank the Author for the chance to read another one of his brilliant books. I read this book within two days and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I cannot imagine the life that Davran faces in her own world, if her true identity is discovered. Living in a harsh, barren landscape with little food and the fear of Saurian is bad enough, without the added danger of possibly being forced into sexual slavery. As she grows older and more womanly, it becomes increasingly more difficult to pass herself off as a boy, and she must feel like the clock is ticking and it's only a matter of time before she is discovered. Davran has a distinct innocence about her and her thoughts often made me giggle. I especially enjoyed her thoughts about how tasty 'berries of straw' are.
I was reminded of 1984 while reading this book. The people that live in Davran's world are incredibly oppressed, and feel the fear of being watched all the time, as it's said that Saurian has eyes everywhere. The world is described very well; I could imagine the barren, dark and miserable wasteland.
This was a quick and easy read and full of surprises. If you enjoy fast paced, action-packed fantasy stories, then I definitely recommend this.
THE AUTHOR
Thank you again to David Staniforth for giving me a free copy of his book. The next book in this series is called 'Ruler's Desire' and I know that I definitely want to read that too, and see what fate will befall Davran.
June 24, 2013
Why write a series of novella's instead of combining them into a single book?
I don't have the answer but many authors have been doing it lately and that is one of my huge pet peeves!!!
On to the book...This book starts out very confusing. It is hard to follow and almost impossible to completely understand. It does get better...the editing though, leaves something to be desired.
Now, I suck at grammar and editing...but even I was picking out the issues. There were some formatting issues that I growled at (incomplete sentences in a few places or just the end of a sentence), there were simple mistakes that a paid editor should have caught (first letter of a sentence not capitalized, missing words, ect.), and a beta reader could have smoothed this story immensely!!
Ultimately, I don't know if I will purchase the next book in the series. I would like to know where the story goes but I am not sure I want to get into it if it is going to continue on for more than a book or two. Trilogies are my okay but anything more than that and the book needs a warning lable (as in PART OF A SERIES!!!)
I give kudos to the writer for the fact that the story DID pick up and it DID get way better than the beginning. But...it felt like it was ended in the middle of a book. Instead of a complete story it feels like you got maybe half of it...This is NOT a stand alone book. It IS part of a series.
I don't have the answer but many authors have been doing it lately and that is one of my huge pet peeves!!!
On to the book...This book starts out very confusing. It is hard to follow and almost impossible to completely understand. It does get better...the editing though, leaves something to be desired.
Now, I suck at grammar and editing...but even I was picking out the issues. There were some formatting issues that I growled at (incomplete sentences in a few places or just the end of a sentence), there were simple mistakes that a paid editor should have caught (first letter of a sentence not capitalized, missing words, ect.), and a beta reader could have smoothed this story immensely!!
Ultimately, I don't know if I will purchase the next book in the series. I would like to know where the story goes but I am not sure I want to get into it if it is going to continue on for more than a book or two. Trilogies are my okay but anything more than that and the book needs a warning lable (as in PART OF A SERIES!!!)
I give kudos to the writer for the fact that the story DID pick up and it DID get way better than the beginning. But...it felt like it was ended in the middle of a book. Instead of a complete story it feels like you got maybe half of it...This is NOT a stand alone book. It IS part of a series.
May 27, 2013
I was given a copy of this book in return for a review.
This is one very awesome story. I loved how description and world details were fed through piece at a time and how it kept the pace nice and high. Very occasionally I wanted more info, especially on the appearances of the characters but that was rare.
The ideas were fantastic and the characters were very believable, with little things hinting at stuff and plenty to keep me turning the pages. If you like fantasy you're going to like this book.
In the whole book the only thing I didn't like was where it ended. I can appreciate that the author was trying to keep the book from getting too long but I think a little bit more could be done to make it feel like the first stage of the story was complete. I felt that at least the first few pages of Chapter 1 of the next book would have been better off at the end of this one and Mayne one more chapter from Darven's father's pov would have helped it to be less of a cut off. If you don't like cliff hangers or unfinished stories then you are definitely going to want to wait for the rest of the books before reading this.
This is one very awesome story. I loved how description and world details were fed through piece at a time and how it kept the pace nice and high. Very occasionally I wanted more info, especially on the appearances of the characters but that was rare.
The ideas were fantastic and the characters were very believable, with little things hinting at stuff and plenty to keep me turning the pages. If you like fantasy you're going to like this book.
In the whole book the only thing I didn't like was where it ended. I can appreciate that the author was trying to keep the book from getting too long but I think a little bit more could be done to make it feel like the first stage of the story was complete. I felt that at least the first few pages of Chapter 1 of the next book would have been better off at the end of this one and Mayne one more chapter from Darven's father's pov would have helped it to be less of a cut off. If you don't like cliff hangers or unfinished stories then you are definitely going to want to wait for the rest of the books before reading this.
May 13, 2013
A fantasy novel with a premise I haven't read before. Lots of good vs evil, so far without huge amounts of actual fighting. Which is good for me as I'm not fond of battle scenes. The plot of well thought out and of a fairly consistent pace.
It's a good opening novel to a series but I wasn't enraptures by it. I loved the start and then slogged through when the world changed. I enjoyed the hints at prophesy but found them to be a little too jovially discussed considering what they Were about. Although that is more the flaw of the character than anything else.
There are quite a few different characters and I'll be interested to see where they progress over the series. I like Davran and her father but struggle to get close to any of the others. It felt kind of like half a book, with the ending in the next one. But that's what you get for reading series.
Overall worth reading and ill be getting the next one to see what happens.
It's a good opening novel to a series but I wasn't enraptures by it. I loved the start and then slogged through when the world changed. I enjoyed the hints at prophesy but found them to be a little too jovially discussed considering what they Were about. Although that is more the flaw of the character than anything else.
There are quite a few different characters and I'll be interested to see where they progress over the series. I like Davran and her father but struggle to get close to any of the others. It felt kind of like half a book, with the ending in the next one. But that's what you get for reading series.
Overall worth reading and ill be getting the next one to see what happens.
May 9, 2013
READ MY COMPLETE REVIEW ON MY BLOG HERE: http://thebookbratz.blogspot.com/2013...
Okay, don't start off by thinking that I gave this book 3 stars because I didn't like it. According to the 3-Star definition on Goodreads, it means, "Liked it."
I've never really been gripped by fantasy novels with dragons and witches and magic. *shrugs* I don't know. It's just never gripped me. However, this novel did. I wasn't in total I-Can't-Put-The-Book-Down mode. I kept picking up my iPad and reading whenever I had free time, but it wasn't like I was clearing my schedule to read it. (I'm also swamped with AP Exams. That's another reason). Anyway, Staniforth's writing style is very clear and descriptive. He captures dialogue between characters seamlessly. A job well done.
Okay, don't start off by thinking that I gave this book 3 stars because I didn't like it. According to the 3-Star definition on Goodreads, it means, "Liked it."
I've never really been gripped by fantasy novels with dragons and witches and magic. *shrugs* I don't know. It's just never gripped me. However, this novel did. I wasn't in total I-Can't-Put-The-Book-Down mode. I kept picking up my iPad and reading whenever I had free time, but it wasn't like I was clearing my schedule to read it. (I'm also swamped with AP Exams. That's another reason). Anyway, Staniforth's writing style is very clear and descriptive. He captures dialogue between characters seamlessly. A job well done.
May 6, 2014
What I liked: Original premise; good characters; interesting plot; things are alluded to but not fully explained right away, leaving me wanting to know more.
What I didn't like: Needs a proofreader (I read this on my Kindle, maybe print versions are better), a few things didn't make sense to me. Example: Davran stumbles into a place that's a paradise compared to where she comes from and just settles in without any effort to go get her family and friends and bring them back with her.
What I didn't like: Needs a proofreader (I read this on my Kindle, maybe print versions are better), a few things didn't make sense to me. Example: Davran stumbles into a place that's a paradise compared to where she comes from and just settles in without any effort to go get her family and friends and bring them back with her.
February 7, 2013
This is really a four-and-a-halfer but the rather blunt scoring system doesn't permit it!
I enjoyed this book a lot as it has all the right ingredients for a good read: well drawn and believable main characters; not one but two "worlds" brought to life in a credible way; good storyline - and a decent hint of menace running through. I look forward to reading the sequel.
I enjoyed this book a lot as it has all the right ingredients for a good read: well drawn and believable main characters; not one but two "worlds" brought to life in a credible way; good storyline - and a decent hint of menace running through. I look forward to reading the sequel.
May 26, 2013
I was provided a copy by the author for a reveiw. Thank you!
This was an interesting read, a little slow getting into the story, but once it picked up, it took off. Quite the cliffhanger at the end, definatly makes you want to dive into the next book to see what happens.
Thank you for the adventure, and look forward to reading more.
This was an interesting read, a little slow getting into the story, but once it picked up, it took off. Quite the cliffhanger at the end, definatly makes you want to dive into the next book to see what happens.
Thank you for the adventure, and look forward to reading more.
January 17, 2015
I love the girl disguised as a boy hook and would like to have known more about this strange, dark, brutal world and its customs. But we are quickly swept into another mystical place filled with magic and colorful characters. I loved the creative settings and got swept along in the story. Looking forward to Book Two :)
December 14, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Fuel to the Fire. The author's descriptive writing had me visualizing the story as if I were right there in the middle of it. Can't wait to start reading the next book Ruler's Desire and am happy to have found a new author to follow.
October 13, 2016
Another exceptional book by this talented Author. I’ve read a number of David Staniforth’s books recently and I’ve loved every one of them. ‘Fuel to the Fire’ has an amazing range of interesting and diverse characters. From massive Razor Hounds to fire breathing dragons, this story is full of adventure and intrigue. Davran spent the first 15 years of her life pretending to be a boy. She certainly didn’t want to be seen as a female and be chosen as a handmaid, and her father didn’t want this for her either. He wanted her to grow up, and hopefully one day be able see rainbows. At the age of 15 her father took her to the arena and she saw the absolute savagery of the razor hounds. One of the handlers was unlucky enough to get tangled when releasing one of the hounds, and for this he was ripped to shreds by them. Saurian their ruler chose this moment to step in and show his power to the spectators by killing two of the razor hounds. The man exerted a power like no other, and you had to wonder why he would starve his own people. Khalil was only tiny and he only required a 14-inch dragon for transport, to track down Hesperus and ask him about the light phenomenon that they had all seen. They think it might be a traveller from another world. The villagers aren’t happy that there is a black dragon that destroyed some of their homes and crops. They were probably lucky that the dragon hadn’t done more damage and killed a few of them. Hesperus promised the villagers that he would take care of the dragon. Davran was hungry and chased the bunyip into the cave, but it was the unusual light that took her interest. She didn’t realise that the light was going to be the result of taking her to another world. A world where there was night and day, green grass and plenty of food. Brant the miller, previously a dragon tamer found her and took her back to his house as she seemed lost. It was here that she first saw Brant’s son Ronyn, and she was certainly taken by how good looking he was. Hesperus comes to Brant to ask him to train and tame the black dragon, and Ronyn want’s more than anything to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a dragon tamer, instead of a miller. Of course Davran wants to stay in this world to help train the dragon and stay close to Ronyn. This Author has certainly found his calling in life, and he is a true story-teller in every sense of the word. If you haven’t read one of his books yet, then I would definitely recommend you do.
June 22, 2014
Fuel to the Fire was a really good start to what feels like a very well thought out trilogy. It’s not normally like me to move straight onto another book by the same author unless it’s a sequel but I loved Alloria so much and I knew from the blurb I may like this.
Can I just say I know already I don’t want to live in Davran’s world, it’s far too scary. Ronyn and his families world however I would happily live there forever. They have day and night and most importantly rainbows. All foreign concepts to Davran and her world in general.
Let me start at the beginning, Davran is a girl who has lived her whole life telling everyone she is a boy. Her parents started the lie when she was a baby to protect her from the evil master that lies in wait to take all girls into his service as his maids. Sounds ok, well I did say he is evil and he is cruel to the girls. It is not clear beyond pleasure why he takes every girl in this world. Once you are 16 no one is safe and for a family to state they wish to keep their child means their death. So in many ways being a girl is a curse but having a girl is also a curse as you raise them to only give them away to a monster. Neither option is good and I’d imagine being with child is terrifying, day after day praying to not have a daughter to know for such a short time and never see again.
Davran’s parents seem to have thought that teaching her to be a boy will save her, if it will is unknown yet as she is not yet 16 and has yet to be found out. When out training to hunt with her father one day she finds a cave system purely by accident which seems to connect her world to another. This is when you start to find out that Davran has never seen the sun, and has no concept of day and night, just sleeps and a constant hunt for food. She’s been told stories of rainbows and beautiful things that don’t exist in her world which means someone must have seen them before to tell stories of them but it doesn’t appear that anyone in this world believes any of this to be more than a fairy tale.
Davran however finds herself actually reaching for a rainbow by accident and finding the rainbow impossible to reach. How was she to know that all of this is part of a prophecy that involves a black dragon I’ll be honest it was nice seeing Davran learn about a world where you don’t have to fight for every scrap of food, where you don’t have to be scared to be a female and where you can have the sun shine down, creating rainbows after the rain. I haven’t seen a rainbow in a long time and Davran made me want to remember every rainbow I saw as a child and even reach for that pot of gold at the end, after all that is what we tell children, not that they can reach for rainbows but that there is a pot of gold at the end. It’s that innocence and love for such stories to be true that drew me to Davran.
For a 15 year old she is oddly very innocent but I believe that to be her parents influence. Her mother did not want her to learn stuff she did not have to until there was no choice and that makes her trip to the other world so interesting as well. She’s led a fairly sheltered life really and to suddenly be thrown to something you don’t understand with people who are nice to you it has to be confusing, scary and exhilarating.
The first book was all about learning about Davran, the two worlds in question, the family that take her in in the beautiful world and about dragons and their training. The second book I have started this morning seems to be clear, it is about further learning the meaning of the prophecy that is called Fuel to the Fire and what part Davran plays in it. I can tell you this, I’m excited to see how she will grow, how the two worlds may change just by knowing about each other and what is next for our young heroine.
5 stars that I truly hope remains constant throughout the rest of the series.
Can I just say I know already I don’t want to live in Davran’s world, it’s far too scary. Ronyn and his families world however I would happily live there forever. They have day and night and most importantly rainbows. All foreign concepts to Davran and her world in general.
Let me start at the beginning, Davran is a girl who has lived her whole life telling everyone she is a boy. Her parents started the lie when she was a baby to protect her from the evil master that lies in wait to take all girls into his service as his maids. Sounds ok, well I did say he is evil and he is cruel to the girls. It is not clear beyond pleasure why he takes every girl in this world. Once you are 16 no one is safe and for a family to state they wish to keep their child means their death. So in many ways being a girl is a curse but having a girl is also a curse as you raise them to only give them away to a monster. Neither option is good and I’d imagine being with child is terrifying, day after day praying to not have a daughter to know for such a short time and never see again.
Davran’s parents seem to have thought that teaching her to be a boy will save her, if it will is unknown yet as she is not yet 16 and has yet to be found out. When out training to hunt with her father one day she finds a cave system purely by accident which seems to connect her world to another. This is when you start to find out that Davran has never seen the sun, and has no concept of day and night, just sleeps and a constant hunt for food. She’s been told stories of rainbows and beautiful things that don’t exist in her world which means someone must have seen them before to tell stories of them but it doesn’t appear that anyone in this world believes any of this to be more than a fairy tale.
Davran however finds herself actually reaching for a rainbow by accident and finding the rainbow impossible to reach. How was she to know that all of this is part of a prophecy that involves a black dragon I’ll be honest it was nice seeing Davran learn about a world where you don’t have to fight for every scrap of food, where you don’t have to be scared to be a female and where you can have the sun shine down, creating rainbows after the rain. I haven’t seen a rainbow in a long time and Davran made me want to remember every rainbow I saw as a child and even reach for that pot of gold at the end, after all that is what we tell children, not that they can reach for rainbows but that there is a pot of gold at the end. It’s that innocence and love for such stories to be true that drew me to Davran.
For a 15 year old she is oddly very innocent but I believe that to be her parents influence. Her mother did not want her to learn stuff she did not have to until there was no choice and that makes her trip to the other world so interesting as well. She’s led a fairly sheltered life really and to suddenly be thrown to something you don’t understand with people who are nice to you it has to be confusing, scary and exhilarating.
The first book was all about learning about Davran, the two worlds in question, the family that take her in in the beautiful world and about dragons and their training. The second book I have started this morning seems to be clear, it is about further learning the meaning of the prophecy that is called Fuel to the Fire and what part Davran plays in it. I can tell you this, I’m excited to see how she will grow, how the two worlds may change just by knowing about each other and what is next for our young heroine.
5 stars that I truly hope remains constant throughout the rest of the series.
November 13, 2020
Fuel to the Fire
If the thought of dragons, magic, dungeons, and unforeseeable futures is your choice of drink, enjoy the fine taste of this book and the rest of the series!💖
If the thought of dragons, magic, dungeons, and unforeseeable futures is your choice of drink, enjoy the fine taste of this book and the rest of the series!💖
January 31, 2015
***I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
What an incredible story Author, David Staniforth has created. I was immensely greatful to find the next book in the series is available. With a cliffhanger ending, I didn't want to wait to read more.
This is a common plot of good versus evil that has a new take with fresh ideas. The worlds that Staniforth has created are well described and easy to picture in your mind. The story has a balance of adventure, thrills, drama, mystery and even a little romance. It all comes together as the story progresses.
The characters become more and more detailed as the story moves forward. You will find yourself feeling sorry for the heroine and her existence and rejoice as she tries to better her lot in life. There are heroes that each have a part in the plot line and while each is different, they all have the same strength of character. I found myself emotionally rooting for the heroes while cussing the villians who are simply awful. You will be impatient for the next book "Ruler's Desire".
I can easily recommend this book to readers of all ages. I can't wait to find out if Davran.....you will just have to read the book....KUDOS Mr. Staniforth on a tale well told.
What an incredible story Author, David Staniforth has created. I was immensely greatful to find the next book in the series is available. With a cliffhanger ending, I didn't want to wait to read more.
This is a common plot of good versus evil that has a new take with fresh ideas. The worlds that Staniforth has created are well described and easy to picture in your mind. The story has a balance of adventure, thrills, drama, mystery and even a little romance. It all comes together as the story progresses.
The characters become more and more detailed as the story moves forward. You will find yourself feeling sorry for the heroine and her existence and rejoice as she tries to better her lot in life. There are heroes that each have a part in the plot line and while each is different, they all have the same strength of character. I found myself emotionally rooting for the heroes while cussing the villians who are simply awful. You will be impatient for the next book "Ruler's Desire".
I can easily recommend this book to readers of all ages. I can't wait to find out if Davran.....you will just have to read the book....KUDOS Mr. Staniforth on a tale well told.
October 4, 2013
First off, I would like to say thank you to David for sending me a free copy of the book.
Now guys this is my honest review of Fuel to the Fire.
Fantasy novels are something that can either go a hit or miss with me. As seen with my 3 star rating, I definitely liked Fuel to fire. It had a great premise and I liked Davran and could definitely relate with her. I liked the way the prophesy was kept vague. It made me as a reader guess as to what it really means. However at the start of the book, I was not totally enraptured with it. The pacing was a bit slow for my taste. Maybe because since this is the first book of the series, world-building needed to be focused in order for us to see the stark difference between the two worlds and their ways of living. Towards the end though is when it gets really interesting.
Summing this up, I felt that Fuel to the fire needed a few more pages to make it a solid first book of the series. However with an ending like that, I am definitely curious on what will happen to Davran in the second book of the series
Now guys this is my honest review of Fuel to the Fire.
Fantasy novels are something that can either go a hit or miss with me. As seen with my 3 star rating, I definitely liked Fuel to fire. It had a great premise and I liked Davran and could definitely relate with her. I liked the way the prophesy was kept vague. It made me as a reader guess as to what it really means. However at the start of the book, I was not totally enraptured with it. The pacing was a bit slow for my taste. Maybe because since this is the first book of the series, world-building needed to be focused in order for us to see the stark difference between the two worlds and their ways of living. Towards the end though is when it gets really interesting.
Summing this up, I felt that Fuel to the fire needed a few more pages to make it a solid first book of the series. However with an ending like that, I am definitely curious on what will happen to Davran in the second book of the series
June 23, 2014
I thought I would give this book a go after hearing good things about it from others, I didn't realise it was a Fantasy book when I started and thought it would be more of a Sci-fi story (no idea where I got this misconception from). I was hooked from the minute I began reading, the author has created wonderful characters that you really care about and others that you want to rip from the pages yourself for being so evil and horrid. The point of view in the story changes from time to time between a few of the main characters but I found the transition very clear and definitely essential, trying to add the needed information any other way would have complicated the story and most likely weakened it (in my opinion). The pace is fast but doesn't neglect anything, spending as much time as is necessary in each scene without lingering too long on one point.
I loved this book so much that on finishing I bought the second immediately after, I wish I could go back in time to read it all over agin for the first time.
I loved this book so much that on finishing I bought the second immediately after, I wish I could go back in time to read it all over agin for the first time.
October 17, 2016
I'm not usually a fantasy fan but because I enjoyed Alloria so much I decided to give this a try. This is book one in a series.
I had difficulty getting into the book. I liked the main character, Davran, who was born into a horrible world where almost anything could get you punished and Davran is forced to hide her gender because girls who reach a certain age will become handmaids of the evil Saurian. He loves to see others suffer and gets enjoyment out of prolonging that suffering. He keeps the poor scrambling for dregs of food to stay alive.
Davran gets transported to another world where she encounters rainbows and is "adopted" by a kind family. This is a world with goodness in it. Real food, a family with love and sunshine. She eventually is able to shed her disguise and reveal herself as a woman.
In the end she must return to her own world (hopefully to bring them hope of a way out of their misery) but we will find that out in the other books in the series.
I didn't care for this as much as the Alloria books.
I had difficulty getting into the book. I liked the main character, Davran, who was born into a horrible world where almost anything could get you punished and Davran is forced to hide her gender because girls who reach a certain age will become handmaids of the evil Saurian. He loves to see others suffer and gets enjoyment out of prolonging that suffering. He keeps the poor scrambling for dregs of food to stay alive.
Davran gets transported to another world where she encounters rainbows and is "adopted" by a kind family. This is a world with goodness in it. Real food, a family with love and sunshine. She eventually is able to shed her disguise and reveal herself as a woman.
In the end she must return to her own world (hopefully to bring them hope of a way out of their misery) but we will find that out in the other books in the series.
I didn't care for this as much as the Alloria books.
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