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The Fire's Stone
THIEF, SWORDSMAN, AND WIZARDESS
AARON. Clan Heir, he has fled his people when his beloved was slain by his own father's command, abandoning his training, duty and beliefs to become a thief. A master of his trade, he now dared the odds in Ischia, city of the volcano, where the price of being caught was death.
DARVISH. Prince of Ischia, third son of a king who had no intention of giving up his throne. The prince was a drunkard, a lover, and a wastrel, yet was gifted with sword skills and with the ability to charm all around him. But not even his charm could free him from the political marriage now being planned.
CHANDRA. Born a princess, she had chosen to become a Wizard of the Nine, that rarest of beings, able to master all the forms that sorcery could take. Now, promised as Darvish's bride, she undertook a desperate journey to Ischia to convince him they must not wed.
Aaron, Darvish, Chandra—three strangers whose fates were about to become interwined. For someone had stolen The Stone, the magical talisman which stood between Ischia and the volcano's wrath. And unless the three could learn to work together on a quest to find the Stone, Ischia would drown in a sea of lava.
AARON. Clan Heir, he has fled his people when his beloved was slain by his own father's command, abandoning his training, duty and beliefs to become a thief. A master of his trade, he now dared the odds in Ischia, city of the volcano, where the price of being caught was death.
DARVISH. Prince of Ischia, third son of a king who had no intention of giving up his throne. The prince was a drunkard, a lover, and a wastrel, yet was gifted with sword skills and with the ability to charm all around him. But not even his charm could free him from the political marriage now being planned.
CHANDRA. Born a princess, she had chosen to become a Wizard of the Nine, that rarest of beings, able to master all the forms that sorcery could take. Now, promised as Darvish's bride, she undertook a desperate journey to Ischia to convince him they must not wed.
Aaron, Darvish, Chandra—three strangers whose fates were about to become interwined. For someone had stolen The Stone, the magical talisman which stood between Ischia and the volcano's wrath. And unless the three could learn to work together on a quest to find the Stone, Ischia would drown in a sea of lava.
287 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 1990
166 people are currently reading
5871 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
152 books2,451 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
December 12, 2018
To be absolutely honest, a lot of what is going on with this book and me is teeth aching nostalgia. I don't think this was the first m/m book I read, but it was the first one I read that didn't have one of the MCs/love interests dying tragically in the series (which is why I can't tell you the name of the first book I read, because, well, spoilers!). From an objective perspective, the plot doesn't stand out to me now, and even the characters are kind of meh in a lot of ways (and the ending is kind of irritating for our female protagonist, in my opinion), but oh, boy, at the time this was something for me. When I read it I didn't have the internet at all, so I certainly didn't have Goodreads lists or even Google to help me find recommendations. I was in a tiny town where no one talked about sexuality at all if they could get around it, to say nothing of homosexuality, and even the library catalog couldn't deal with searches of that kind except MAYBE in a medical way. I don't even remember how I found this book at all. Being able to read a book about a gay couple and a spunky girl who was determined to follow her own path no matter what? My young self jumped on that so fast. Representation is so important, and there was so little for my young self. I have access to so much more now, but I don't forget what it meant to me to have even one or two books then.
October 13, 2017
It’s been ages since I first read this, but I’ve been meaning to get round to rereading it for ages, and I’m glad I finally did. The world itself isn’t particularly distinctive: wandering peoples, oppressive clans, magic which requires detachment from the world, royalty and court intrigue… but the characters are what make it shine for me. Chandra, Aaron and Darvish each have their faults, but together they make up a surprisingly strong team, compensating for each other’s faults — and not just easily or naturally, but by working at it and learning to rely on one another. Each has their own sadnesses and goals, and gradually they learn to come together and deal with it.
The relationship between Chandra and the other two is as important as their romantic relationship with each other; she’s not just a woman in the way of the guys getting together, as some people seem prone to viewing women in queer stories. Chandra is just as integral to their strength as either of the men.
I think the process of dealing with Darvish’s alcoholism is also well done. The reasons he drinks, and the reasons he stops; the way he tries to resist it and where he fails. All of it is sensitively done, to my mind, and felt real. Aaron’s struggle with his sexuality is one that is also, unfortunately, real; there’s plenty of people who’ll force themselves to stay in the closet because of fear of what society or particularly their families would say. And Chandra’s determination to remain independent, because attachment might blunt her powers — well, that feels real, too. (Think of the people who complain that a woman will be ‘distracted’ by having a partner and family…)
I enjoyed the book a lot, and it’s also nice that it’s a stand-alone. Not that I wouldn’t mind more of the trio’s adventures, but I feel that it’s unnecessary. The story is complete as a one and done. That’s kind of refreshing in a world of so. many. trilogies.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
The relationship between Chandra and the other two is as important as their romantic relationship with each other; she’s not just a woman in the way of the guys getting together, as some people seem prone to viewing women in queer stories. Chandra is just as integral to their strength as either of the men.
I think the process of dealing with Darvish’s alcoholism is also well done. The reasons he drinks, and the reasons he stops; the way he tries to resist it and where he fails. All of it is sensitively done, to my mind, and felt real. Aaron’s struggle with his sexuality is one that is also, unfortunately, real; there’s plenty of people who’ll force themselves to stay in the closet because of fear of what society or particularly their families would say. And Chandra’s determination to remain independent, because attachment might blunt her powers — well, that feels real, too. (Think of the people who complain that a woman will be ‘distracted’ by having a partner and family…)
I enjoyed the book a lot, and it’s also nice that it’s a stand-alone. Not that I wouldn’t mind more of the trio’s adventures, but I feel that it’s unnecessary. The story is complete as a one and done. That’s kind of refreshing in a world of so. many. trilogies.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
March 11, 2019
i don't know if it was just the mood i'm in but i just found this really uncompelling and boring :(
July 13, 2021
This was my first Tanya Huff and I regret waiting so long to pick up her books. I loved this sweet story, and, given the progressive content, it boggles my mind that it was written in 1990.
Aaron (20) is a thief, burdened by grief and bent on self-destruction. When a risky but frivolous job goes wrong, he meets Darvish (23), third son of the King of Ischia. Lonely and misunderstood, Darvish drinks to forget, but hopes that Aaron might prove a novel distraction. Meanwhile, Darvish's promised, Chandra (16), will do anything to get out of her betrothal and back to her studies as a powerful Wizard of the Nine. When the magical stone that protects Ischia from volcano on which it stands is stolen, Aaron, Darvish and Chandra are sent on a quest to recover it or, more likely, die trying.
On the one hand, this is a book of its time. It's a classic fantasy quest aimed at a younger audience (though, due to the themes, I wouldn't say too young – maybe 12+). Where it differs is the sexual orientations of its characters: Aaron is gay, Darvish bisexual, and Chandra asexual. Though it wasn't unheard of for authors writing in 1990 to have gay protagonists, it was unusual, particularly for the target audience. For those concerned, sex is mentioned but in no great detail and there's nothing on-page.
The book is well paced, with a simple–but not over-simple–plot, and well described, easily imagined settings, based upon Italian geography (though the cultural is more generally medieval Europe). The tension was exciting without the author needing to stoop to tawdry over-dramatics, as they so often do in modern young adult literature. The author gets serious kudos from me for her nuanced discussion of some tough themes, particularly grief and (alcoholic) addiction.
I loved Aaron and his gentle, sad demeanour–so different from the usual cock-sure thieves we see. I appreciated Darvish and the journey he had to take to discover his self-worth. I found Chandra and her brash determination harder to swallow, though I did come to like her by the end. The magic is when they're together, supporting and encouraging–a little found family.
I read The Fire's Stone at a vulnerable time for me. I didn't have the energy of the emotional resilience to read much other than trashy contemporary romances, but this hit the spot. It's an easy read that transports you to a beautiful world; the tale sweet, but not saccharine, romantic, but not gaudy, happy but not overly-energetic. Recommend to all ages but particularly those 12 to 16.
If you liked The Fire's Stone, you might like:
"It appears that their will be the making of you."
Aaron (20) is a thief, burdened by grief and bent on self-destruction. When a risky but frivolous job goes wrong, he meets Darvish (23), third son of the King of Ischia. Lonely and misunderstood, Darvish drinks to forget, but hopes that Aaron might prove a novel distraction. Meanwhile, Darvish's promised, Chandra (16), will do anything to get out of her betrothal and back to her studies as a powerful Wizard of the Nine. When the magical stone that protects Ischia from volcano on which it stands is stolen, Aaron, Darvish and Chandra are sent on a quest to recover it or, more likely, die trying.
"A thief and a drunk. Nine Above, he must be out of his mind." "A thief to catch a thief. And perhaps it's time to rove you're more than a drunk." Darvish stopped and looked back over his shoulder a the younger man. "Am I?" he asked, then sighed and turned away. "I need a drink."
On the one hand, this is a book of its time. It's a classic fantasy quest aimed at a younger audience (though, due to the themes, I wouldn't say too young – maybe 12+). Where it differs is the sexual orientations of its characters: Aaron is gay, Darvish bisexual, and Chandra asexual. Though it wasn't unheard of for authors writing in 1990 to have gay protagonists, it was unusual, particularly for the target audience. For those concerned, sex is mentioned but in no great detail and there's nothing on-page.
"One Below, we're going to save Ischia and we don't know how to buy breakfast?"
The book is well paced, with a simple–but not over-simple–plot, and well described, easily imagined settings, based upon Italian geography (though the cultural is more generally medieval Europe). The tension was exciting without the author needing to stoop to tawdry over-dramatics, as they so often do in modern young adult literature. The author gets serious kudos from me for her nuanced discussion of some tough themes, particularly grief and (alcoholic) addiction.
"And what are you and Aaron going to do when you find this unknown and, I might add just inc are you haven't caught on yet, very powerful wizard with The Stone?" "What do you mean?" "I mean what are you going to do? Whack him with your sword while Aaron picks his pocket?" "Something like that."
I loved Aaron and his gentle, sad demeanour–so different from the usual cock-sure thieves we see. I appreciated Darvish and the journey he had to take to discover his self-worth. I found Chandra and her brash determination harder to swallow, though I did come to like her by the end. The magic is when they're together, supporting and encouraging–a little found family.
"You lean on me. I'll lean on you."
I read The Fire's Stone at a vulnerable time for me. I didn't have the energy of the emotional resilience to read much other than trashy contemporary romances, but this hit the spot. It's an easy read that transports you to a beautiful world; the tale sweet, but not saccharine, romantic, but not gaudy, happy but not overly-energetic. Recommend to all ages but particularly those 12 to 16.
If you liked The Fire's Stone, you might like:
December 3, 2012
It was no hardship to reread this. Tanya Huff is one of my favorite fantasy novelists, and this is one of her best. Aaron has fled a harsh abusive father and is living as a thief when he tries to steal a gem from Darvish's palace. Dar is the king's third son and has been convinced his role is as drunkard and wastrel and all around useless spare part. But when Aaron tumbles onto his balcony, life is about to change for both of them. Chandra is Darvish's promised bride, except that her magic will be diminished if she ever loses her virginity. Even as a teenager Chandra isn't someone to meekly give way to other people's plans for her.
These three come together in a quest that is not unique in fantasy, although well done. What drives this book is character. Chandra's spunk and dedication to her magic. Dar's strength underlying the addiction that has been forced upon him. Aaron's bleak solitary loneliness and steadfast honor. The growing friendship between all three, and the slowly-developing attraction between the two men that is almost palpable.
This book is sweet-no-sex. It begins in pain and torture (mostly off page) and conflict. Aaron is not aware of being bi, and his awakening to any kind of human affection is slow. But the progress of the journey all three of the MCs take is just fun and occasionally deeply touching. This is a multiple reread for me.
These three come together in a quest that is not unique in fantasy, although well done. What drives this book is character. Chandra's spunk and dedication to her magic. Dar's strength underlying the addiction that has been forced upon him. Aaron's bleak solitary loneliness and steadfast honor. The growing friendship between all three, and the slowly-developing attraction between the two men that is almost palpable.
This book is sweet-no-sex. It begins in pain and torture (mostly off page) and conflict. Aaron is not aware of being bi, and his awakening to any kind of human affection is slow. But the progress of the journey all three of the MCs take is just fun and occasionally deeply touching. This is a multiple reread for me.
February 1, 2013
Was going to continuing listening to Phoenix Rising but ended up listening to an old favorite while to/from work.
I love the balance between Aaron, Chandra and Darvish. They are perfect together in this quest to find themselves as well as save Darvish's country. It is still believable and nice to read how the relationship of the three strengthens through the trip and eventually heals all of them. I think this is like my fifth time (or more) to read since I first read this decades ago, but it still is a really nice read.
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OMG just found that this is out in audiobook at Audible.
One of my favorite Tanya Huff book! Should I or should I not? that is the problem. It could be a wonderful comfort listen if the narrator is good.... Hmmm FT/MM and has a nice strong female character... just like a good Yaoi manga.....
Ack! I am getting this. LOL resistance is futile
I love the balance between Aaron, Chandra and Darvish. They are perfect together in this quest to find themselves as well as save Darvish's country. It is still believable and nice to read how the relationship of the three strengthens through the trip and eventually heals all of them. I think this is like my fifth time (or more) to read since I first read this decades ago, but it still is a really nice read.
---------------------
OMG just found that this is out in audiobook at Audible.
One of my favorite Tanya Huff book! Should I or should I not? that is the problem. It could be a wonderful comfort listen if the narrator is good.... Hmmm FT/MM and has a nice strong female character... just like a good Yaoi manga.....
Ack! I am getting this. LOL resistance is futile
February 7, 2017
The ot3 is SO STRONG with this one.
August 28, 2013
It’s really neat that the
Of Darkness, Light, and Fire
omnibus contains both urban fantasy and classical fantasy. Not a lot of combined editions will do that. It showcases Tanya Huff’s wider abilities, and it also provides a nice change of tone if one is reading the two novels back to back. It can also make the task of comparing the two books somewhat more difficult. Even after a few days of thinking on it, I’m still not sure whether I prefer The Fire’s Stone to
Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light
.
Back in the day when I was all up in the David Eddings stuff, I picked up a copy of his The Rivan Codex. It’s essentially a cookbooks for constructing your own fantasy world. He lays out exactly how he went about creating the various political and economic systems of each of the countries that appear in the Belgariad/Mallorean world by taking existing cultures and societies and adapting them. It provides interesting insight into one possible way of creating a fantasy world, and it’s also a potent reminder that it’s very easy to fall into the trap of cookiecutter fantasy characterization.
The Fire’s Stone is, at times, almost laughably like this. The three protagonists are literally a fighter, a mage, and a thief (TVTropes alert). They go off on a quest to retrieve the eponymous stone, which magically protects the city of Ischia from being consumed by a volcano. Because, you know, it’s totes a good idea to build your city near a volcano and then rely on magic to protect it. Along the way, they do the typical fantasy quest things, including drinking in taverns and fighting pitched battles. (And then there’s the Shoi, the stereotypical “magical romantic nomad” analogues.) (TVTropes)
In a way, I find this book very reassuring, because it reminds me of the kind of stuff I was writing when I was much younger and was just beginning to grasp the idea of cliché. Which is not to say that The Fire’s Stone is clichéd, just that, by contemporary standards, it is definitely more loyal to the usual classical fantasy tropes than subversive. This is not a bad thing, and Huff plays it in the right way to create a compelling narrative. But there is never really a time when The Fire’s Stone will leap off the page and surprise you.
There are a few clunky components that almost made me cringe. I really wanted to like Chandra, because she is so committed to remaining independent and preserving her agency. She is also a whiny sixteen-year-old girl who spends much of the novel displaying incredible skill but then stamping around and declaring, “Of course not! I’m a Wizard of the Nine!” as if that’s her answer to every possible question she could ever be asked. (“Would you like fries with that?” “I’m a Wizard of the Nine!” “What time is it?” “I’m a Wizard of the Nine, do you expect me to tell time?”) She is remarkably single-minded. I found this very annoying, though to be fair, Huff does a good job showing that this is part of the process of her developing into a more mature, open-minded individual.
The antagonists of this book are remarkably laid back. The king who organized this heist is quite concerned about the idea that an incompetent prince and a thief (who got caught, so, you know, probably incompetent) are on their way to steal back the Stone. The wizard who actually has the Stone? Not so much. And, apparently, despite having the power of the Stone, not much of a match for our heroes.
If it seems like I’m speaking in very generalized terms, that’s because it’s so easy to generalize here. Huff has all the components down, but she has yet to be able to season the dish with a sufficient amount of her own original creations. The Fire’s Stone is a very skilled but bland work.
I did enjoy the development that Darvish undergoes. He begins as a fairly boorish drunkard who, despite being permanently intoxicated, doesn’t seem to have any problems in bed. (Mind you, he’s a prince. He can probably afford some good wizardry, if you know what I mean.) Forced to step up for the good of the kingdom, Darvish changes for the better. The change is gradual, and Huff depicts the struggle he has to remain clean after giving up drinking. It gets to the point when, in the climax, he almost slides all the way back down the slope.
I also enjoyed the slight twist to the standard romantic pairing that we’d usually see in this type of book. Darvish is bisexual, and initially he’s quite taken with Aaron the thief. Aaron has scome cultural taboos about that, and it takes him a while to overcome that prejudice. Meanwhile, Chandra has been betrothed to Darvish against her will, and without ever meeting him. She is committed to remaining pure and free from distraction (“I’m a Wizard of the Nine!”)—good luck with that one.
Tradition would dictate that, over the course of their quest, Darvish’s nobility and self-sacrifice would soften Chandra’s heart and cause her to love him and want him despite her resistance. Instead, Darvish and Aaron grow closer, while Chandra does some soul-searching and decides she can marry Darvish, for the good of her kingdom, and not sleep with him (especially if Darvish has someone else to keep him comfortable instead). It’s all very complicated and decidedly not traditional, which is awesome.
Despite being more rigorously cookiecutter in some aspects, I’d probably say I prefer The Fire’s Stone over Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light. I don’t know whether this is a bias of classical fantasy over urban fantasy, or if it’s more to do with the specifics of the plot and characters involved. Maybe it’s that I expect people in urban, contemporary settings to feel more “real” and less stereotypical, whereas it’s easier to get away with the fantasy character-class approach in a classial setting.
Regardless, The Fire’s Stone won’t be making any of my “best of” lists any time soon. But I think that it’s one of those books that would make sense as an answer to someone who asked, “What is a fantasy novel?” I could hand them this story and tell them, “It goes something like this,” and suddenly they would understand. And really, I think sometimes that can be sufficient.
Back in the day when I was all up in the David Eddings stuff, I picked up a copy of his The Rivan Codex. It’s essentially a cookbooks for constructing your own fantasy world. He lays out exactly how he went about creating the various political and economic systems of each of the countries that appear in the Belgariad/Mallorean world by taking existing cultures and societies and adapting them. It provides interesting insight into one possible way of creating a fantasy world, and it’s also a potent reminder that it’s very easy to fall into the trap of cookiecutter fantasy characterization.
The Fire’s Stone is, at times, almost laughably like this. The three protagonists are literally a fighter, a mage, and a thief (TVTropes alert). They go off on a quest to retrieve the eponymous stone, which magically protects the city of Ischia from being consumed by a volcano. Because, you know, it’s totes a good idea to build your city near a volcano and then rely on magic to protect it. Along the way, they do the typical fantasy quest things, including drinking in taverns and fighting pitched battles. (And then there’s the Shoi, the stereotypical “magical romantic nomad” analogues.) (TVTropes)
In a way, I find this book very reassuring, because it reminds me of the kind of stuff I was writing when I was much younger and was just beginning to grasp the idea of cliché. Which is not to say that The Fire’s Stone is clichéd, just that, by contemporary standards, it is definitely more loyal to the usual classical fantasy tropes than subversive. This is not a bad thing, and Huff plays it in the right way to create a compelling narrative. But there is never really a time when The Fire’s Stone will leap off the page and surprise you.
There are a few clunky components that almost made me cringe. I really wanted to like Chandra, because she is so committed to remaining independent and preserving her agency. She is also a whiny sixteen-year-old girl who spends much of the novel displaying incredible skill but then stamping around and declaring, “Of course not! I’m a Wizard of the Nine!” as if that’s her answer to every possible question she could ever be asked. (“Would you like fries with that?” “I’m a Wizard of the Nine!” “What time is it?” “I’m a Wizard of the Nine, do you expect me to tell time?”) She is remarkably single-minded. I found this very annoying, though to be fair, Huff does a good job showing that this is part of the process of her developing into a more mature, open-minded individual.
The antagonists of this book are remarkably laid back. The king who organized this heist is quite concerned about the idea that an incompetent prince and a thief (who got caught, so, you know, probably incompetent) are on their way to steal back the Stone. The wizard who actually has the Stone? Not so much. And, apparently, despite having the power of the Stone, not much of a match for our heroes.
If it seems like I’m speaking in very generalized terms, that’s because it’s so easy to generalize here. Huff has all the components down, but she has yet to be able to season the dish with a sufficient amount of her own original creations. The Fire’s Stone is a very skilled but bland work.
I did enjoy the development that Darvish undergoes. He begins as a fairly boorish drunkard who, despite being permanently intoxicated, doesn’t seem to have any problems in bed. (Mind you, he’s a prince. He can probably afford some good wizardry, if you know what I mean.) Forced to step up for the good of the kingdom, Darvish changes for the better. The change is gradual, and Huff depicts the struggle he has to remain clean after giving up drinking. It gets to the point when, in the climax, he almost slides all the way back down the slope.
I also enjoyed the slight twist to the standard romantic pairing that we’d usually see in this type of book. Darvish is bisexual, and initially he’s quite taken with Aaron the thief. Aaron has scome cultural taboos about that, and it takes him a while to overcome that prejudice. Meanwhile, Chandra has been betrothed to Darvish against her will, and without ever meeting him. She is committed to remaining pure and free from distraction (“I’m a Wizard of the Nine!”)—good luck with that one.
Tradition would dictate that, over the course of their quest, Darvish’s nobility and self-sacrifice would soften Chandra’s heart and cause her to love him and want him despite her resistance. Instead, Darvish and Aaron grow closer, while Chandra does some soul-searching and decides she can marry Darvish, for the good of her kingdom, and not sleep with him (especially if Darvish has someone else to keep him comfortable instead). It’s all very complicated and decidedly not traditional, which is awesome.
Despite being more rigorously cookiecutter in some aspects, I’d probably say I prefer The Fire’s Stone over Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light. I don’t know whether this is a bias of classical fantasy over urban fantasy, or if it’s more to do with the specifics of the plot and characters involved. Maybe it’s that I expect people in urban, contemporary settings to feel more “real” and less stereotypical, whereas it’s easier to get away with the fantasy character-class approach in a classial setting.
Regardless, The Fire’s Stone won’t be making any of my “best of” lists any time soon. But I think that it’s one of those books that would make sense as an answer to someone who asked, “What is a fantasy novel?” I could hand them this story and tell them, “It goes something like this,” and suddenly they would understand. And really, I think sometimes that can be sufficient.
July 7, 2016
One of my long time favorites. I always grab this book when I need something relaxing that takes me away into another world.
The story is a typical fantasy adventure of the "retrieving lost powerful object" kind. Nothing wrong with that, especially since it's executed well and brings character- and relationship developments for our protagonists.
They are the highlight of this story. Aaron, Darvish and Chandra are such lovable characters - on their own and as a team. They completely carry this story and I never felt like one of them was shortchanged.
They seem to be basic fantasy tropes at first (the drunk prince who sleeps with anyone he pleases, the best thief of the city clouded in grief and the beautiful princess who longs for something more than being a wife), but there is so much more to each of them (for example, neither the prince nor the thief fall in love with the princess in this one and the princess really couldn't care less) and they and their friendship are written in such a charming and heartwarming way that one can't help but fall in love with them. Everyone has their little arc: Darvish coming into his own as a prince and overcoming his alcoholism, Aaron learning to accept himself and dealing with his grief and Chandra experiencing true friendship for the first time and learning more about being a powerful wizard.
And of course they're never better than when they're together - all three or in all the various combinations.
As always in Tanya Huff's books every character, no matter how little time they get on page, has a personality. Everyone feels real, which in turn makes their world feel real, making this book an utterly enjoyable experience in my opinion.
The authors style is entertaining and easy to read. I could see everything perfectly in my head.
The story is a typical fantasy adventure of the "retrieving lost powerful object" kind. Nothing wrong with that, especially since it's executed well and brings character- and relationship developments for our protagonists.
They are the highlight of this story. Aaron, Darvish and Chandra are such lovable characters - on their own and as a team. They completely carry this story and I never felt like one of them was shortchanged.
They seem to be basic fantasy tropes at first (the drunk prince who sleeps with anyone he pleases, the best thief of the city clouded in grief and the beautiful princess who longs for something more than being a wife), but there is so much more to each of them (for example, neither the prince nor the thief fall in love with the princess in this one and the princess really couldn't care less) and they and their friendship are written in such a charming and heartwarming way that one can't help but fall in love with them. Everyone has their little arc: Darvish coming into his own as a prince and overcoming his alcoholism, Aaron learning to accept himself and dealing with his grief and Chandra experiencing true friendship for the first time and learning more about being a powerful wizard.
And of course they're never better than when they're together - all three or in all the various combinations.
As always in Tanya Huff's books every character, no matter how little time they get on page, has a personality. Everyone feels real, which in turn makes their world feel real, making this book an utterly enjoyable experience in my opinion.
The authors style is entertaining and easy to read. I could see everything perfectly in my head.
January 24, 2011
This was really an extraordinary fantasy novel. It takes all the basics: a warrior prince, a wizard princess, and a well-born thief and has them go on a quest for a stolen magical object that must be retrieved otherwise it will doom an entire city. Each of the characters has their quirks, their families, their personal tragedies, and their abilities. But I have rarely read a book that has such well-written fantasy characters that realistically struggle with alcoholic dependency, fear of failure that destroys their ability to perform, and an inability/refusal to empathize due to the loss of a parent. At the same time, the author also writes a love sub-plot that subverts the genre. Amazing.
May 1, 2021
This is a nice, traditional high-fantasy quest novel with a richly drawn cast of characters. It's kind of like a D&D game with a slight tilt to the PG-13 side. Nothing Earth-shaking (well, except maybe the volcano), but a pleasantly engaging adventure.
March 10, 2019
Someone somewhere on the internet recommended this book many years ago. Although I have no memory of who, I can tell why. ‘The Fire’s Stone’ is the same kind of soothing, restful read as really good fanfic, or the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. If it hadn’t been for the specific recommendation, I would not have picked up what looks like generic fantasy. Indeed, the setting isn’t very distinctive and the world-building unmemorable, aside from the cultural norm of bisexuality. The strength of the book is the main characters: a dissolute prince, a traumatised thief, and a dissatisfied princess. Flimsy plot reasons force the three to go on a quest together and have feelings about each other. Various romantic tropes are deployed and subverted: arranged marriage and soul-bonding, for instance. I found the dynamic between the three endearing and amusing. Although the plot is predictable, it forces them to confront their inner demons and support one another, which is both compelling and heart-warming. There are plenty of moving and hilarious scenes, along with a welcome absence of heteronormativity. A good comfort read for a cold evening. Unfortunately there isn’t a sequel; I would definitely read it if there was.
March 4, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up
It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I really liked it. I loved the three leads and their relationship, it’s been a while since I read a book where it truly felt like the main characters were friends.
It’s a very classic quest type fantasy, but with enough innovations that it still felt fresh. Which is saying something considering it came out 35 years ago.
It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I really liked it. I loved the three leads and their relationship, it’s been a while since I read a book where it truly felt like the main characters were friends.
It’s a very classic quest type fantasy, but with enough innovations that it still felt fresh. Which is saying something considering it came out 35 years ago.
December 26, 2015
Tanya Huff has written an incredibly charming book with action, adventure, and a cast of likeable and nuanced characters. This book was my biggest surprise of the year as I wasn't expecting it to have so much depth and emotion in such a thin little volume. A new addition to my favourites, for sure.
The plotline is standard fantasy fare-- a team consisting of a thief, a swordsman, and a wizard set off on a mission to retrieve a stolen magical item that is needed to keep a city from total destruction-- but it's the characters that really stand out. Aaron, the suicidal thief, can't get over the trauma of his cousin's death and struggles with his sexuality; a third son and prince Darvish is an alcoholic and sleeps around constantly, in order to cope with his life at court; Darvish's betrothed Chandra is hurt by her father's neglect and only wants to become a great Wizard of the Nine. Each of them has their own demons to face and the author writes it all with a lot of empathy and understanding. I really loved seeing how each of the three main characters undergo their own growths and transformations through the course of the book.
I also really liked how Huff is so inclusive of diversity in this book. The whole story is set in a Middle Eastern-flavoured society where no one bats an eyelash at non-hetero sexualities-- Darvish is a brown-skinned bisexual guy, Chandra has no interest in romance at all (I read her as asexual), and Aaron is pretty much the only white character in the entire book. Also, the outcome of the romantic relationship, which was a little unconventional, was very sweet and very fitting.
The plotline is standard fantasy fare-- a team consisting of a thief, a swordsman, and a wizard set off on a mission to retrieve a stolen magical item that is needed to keep a city from total destruction-- but it's the characters that really stand out. Aaron, the suicidal thief, can't get over the trauma of his cousin's death and struggles with his sexuality; a third son and prince Darvish is an alcoholic and sleeps around constantly, in order to cope with his life at court; Darvish's betrothed Chandra is hurt by her father's neglect and only wants to become a great Wizard of the Nine. Each of them has their own demons to face and the author writes it all with a lot of empathy and understanding. I really loved seeing how each of the three main characters undergo their own growths and transformations through the course of the book.
I also really liked how Huff is so inclusive of diversity in this book. The whole story is set in a Middle Eastern-flavoured society where no one bats an eyelash at non-hetero sexualities-- Darvish is a brown-skinned bisexual guy, Chandra has no interest in romance at all (I read her as asexual), and Aaron is pretty much the only white character in the entire book. Also, the outcome of the romantic relationship, which was a little unconventional, was very sweet and very fitting.
June 27, 2010
Possibly I'm overrating this, because I'm a fan of Tanya Huff. It was a nice enough read. It's a standard, predictable quest story, where a collection of misfits save the world. Well, the city.
I liked the nonchalance regarding gender, which is typical of Huff but almost startling in a traditional swords-and-horses fantasy setting. The characterization rightly took precedence over world-building, and the chemistry between the trio of protagonists was nice in the beginning.
Their conflicts dissolved away too quickly, however, and the romance felt forced. I wasn't crazy about the constant POV changes. Also Aaron's eyebrows were called "demon wings" too many times.
I liked the nonchalance regarding gender, which is typical of Huff but almost startling in a traditional swords-and-horses fantasy setting. The characterization rightly took precedence over world-building, and the chemistry between the trio of protagonists was nice in the beginning.
Their conflicts dissolved away too quickly, however, and the romance felt forced. I wasn't crazy about the constant POV changes. Also Aaron's eyebrows were called "demon wings" too many times.
March 14, 2021
This really impressed me. It's a standalone fantasy with a tight plot, well-paced action, character development, slow-burn romance, and interesting world. And it's less than 300 pages. The dynamics between Aaron, Darvish, and Chandra are so good. For those interested, 2 of the main characters are bisexual, and 2 are described as not white. This did not feel like the standard medieval Britain setting at all. But I wish Aaron's eyebrows hadn't been repeatedly referred to as demon wings. I can't wait to read more of Tanya Huff's books and see what she can do with a series.
November 2, 2016
"Volcano threatens populace with fiery death" stories are not generally comforting, but this remains one of my favorite books to re-read on bad days and/or long plane flights. Huff does such a lovely job with character, dialog, motivation, and community-building that the well-trodden plot (Return the McGuffin or Badness Ensues!) fits like a favorite sweater. Part of the joy comes from the cheerful disrespect Huff shows to traditional fantasy tropes - two of her three heroes aren't white, no one is heterosexual, the Chosen One thinks she deserves to be recognized as such, there aren't Misty Mountains or an Enchanted Forest to traverse, and the only wise old man is a jerk.
All three protagonists are fighting generational pressures - marry-the-princess, save-the-city, live-up-to-my-father's-legacy kind of pressures - and while they agree to work together and save their people, everything else is up for negotiation. Just as she does with her Blood series, or her excellent military scifi, Tanya Huff looks at an established genre and asks the obvious/obnoxious question - Why does the story have to go like that? Why can't we do something different? - and refuses to accept Because I/Tolkien/Heinlein/Rice Said So. It's a smartass punk approach to genre fiction, and it's wonderful.
The Fire's Stone has pirates and screaming peacocks; actual consequences for declaring yourself a hard-drinking antihero; a polytheistic island culture with zero Abrahamic allegories; excellent one-liners, threats, and declarations of true love; sufficient sword fights; and an immensely satisfying conclusion. The pacing is occasionally uneven (walking for several days: never interesting), and the outcome is kind of a given, but it's also her third or fourth book. Well worth a read (or re-read)!
All three protagonists are fighting generational pressures - marry-the-princess, save-the-city, live-up-to-my-father's-legacy kind of pressures - and while they agree to work together and save their people, everything else is up for negotiation. Just as she does with her Blood series, or her excellent military scifi, Tanya Huff looks at an established genre and asks the obvious/obnoxious question - Why does the story have to go like that? Why can't we do something different? - and refuses to accept Because I/Tolkien/Heinlein/Rice Said So. It's a smartass punk approach to genre fiction, and it's wonderful.
The Fire's Stone has pirates and screaming peacocks; actual consequences for declaring yourself a hard-drinking antihero; a polytheistic island culture with zero Abrahamic allegories; excellent one-liners, threats, and declarations of true love; sufficient sword fights; and an immensely satisfying conclusion. The pacing is occasionally uneven (walking for several days: never interesting), and the outcome is kind of a given, but it's also her third or fourth book. Well worth a read (or re-read)!
February 7, 2021
I like it.
I like the story. I like the characters.
I love the idea of a city built by an active volcano and being protected by a stone made by wizards and it being stolen. I love that three unlikely people are the ones that go and try to find the stone and steal it back - all before the wizards lose their fight to keep the volcano in check. I love that there are wizards, princes/princesses, thieves and other people.
I love Aaron, Darvish and Chandra a lot. The three really hit some buttons and also fill one of my favourite tropes - found family. <3 <3 <3 Love, love, love.
Now, the thing I really didn't love - the POV switches. I'm fine with stories told from different POVs, but not if it switches with almost every sentence. Nope. Nope. Nope. Do not like. That almost made me put the book down and DNF. :/
So, yeah, mostly I love this one but for that one writing style choice.
I like the story. I like the characters.
I love the idea of a city built by an active volcano and being protected by a stone made by wizards and it being stolen. I love that three unlikely people are the ones that go and try to find the stone and steal it back - all before the wizards lose their fight to keep the volcano in check. I love that there are wizards, princes/princesses, thieves and other people.
I love Aaron, Darvish and Chandra a lot. The three really hit some buttons and also fill one of my favourite tropes - found family. <3 <3 <3 Love, love, love.
Now, the thing I really didn't love - the POV switches. I'm fine with stories told from different POVs, but not if it switches with almost every sentence. Nope. Nope. Nope. Do not like. That almost made me put the book down and DNF. :/
So, yeah, mostly I love this one but for that one writing style choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2011
Fire's Stone is a beautiful story and I'm not exactly sure how many times I've read it really. The plot itself isn't what's so amazing, its the characters themselves and their development through the story. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses and by coming up with a situation that puts them together we get to see how these strengths and weaknesses work for and against them. We also see how they grow as the plot advances.
I loved the light love story that takes place in Fire's Stone. Its not a romance by any means but the attraction that grows into friendship and then love is very believable and by the end you're shedding tears of joy over the choices the characters make.
If I could pick a fantasy story to make into a movie, Fire's Stone would definitely be in my top 5.
I loved the light love story that takes place in Fire's Stone. Its not a romance by any means but the attraction that grows into friendship and then love is very believable and by the end you're shedding tears of joy over the choices the characters make.
If I could pick a fantasy story to make into a movie, Fire's Stone would definitely be in my top 5.
August 17, 2012
I first read this book as a young teenager, coming to grips with my own sexuality. I can remember at the time feeling a secret thrill that I had found a book that depicted a gay relationship. (shock, gasp). As a result, I read this book many times over the years, and still go back to read it from time to time.
At the time I found this book, I was an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, and that is what this book is. Although the hero's in this book have a relationship, the plot of the book does not completely revolve on that relationship. This is very much a fantasy/swords and sorcery type book, in which the two main characters happen to be gay.
Needless to say, this book holds a special place on my shelf. This book definitely deserves to be read.
At the time I found this book, I was an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, and that is what this book is. Although the hero's in this book have a relationship, the plot of the book does not completely revolve on that relationship. This is very much a fantasy/swords and sorcery type book, in which the two main characters happen to be gay.
Needless to say, this book holds a special place on my shelf. This book definitely deserves to be read.
October 18, 2019
There are a lot of reasons I still love this book. But the "all evil people are fat" and "all fat people are selfish/greedy" vibe kept jumping out at me on this read through in a way it didn't the first time, and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. :(
November 29, 2021
I'm realising this most likely won't appeal to anyone who isn't into 90s fantasy with clumsy but endearing queer elements as well as into some very oddly configured found families, but I happen to adore both so five stars it is.
July 11, 2014
So, a friend told me to read this one, saying “I feel like you would really like a story about a suicidal clan heir turned master thief and a drunken bisexual slut of a third prince and a stubborn asexual wizard and their weird threeway thing.” Yes. Yes I would.
It is a fun, fun, novel, with tons of excellent pining and extremely sad very-fucked-up characters who are remarkably stable given their respective tragic pasts. It’s remarkably cheerful, really! If you’re looking for a silly queer romance in a high fantasy setting, this is the book for you. It contains, in addition to the tragic pasts, thievery, and threeway, a good solid dose of witty banter, volcanoes, asshole dads, bonding, and unnecessary shipwrecks. There’s a quest! It’s absurd!
The premise, in short, is that Aaron (aforementioned master thief) has come to Ischia, to steal and to court death, because Ischia has its thieves flogged to death. He runs across an old lady who was the best gem cutter in Ischia. Her masterwork was the emerald on the royal staff; when she dies, Aaron attempts to steal it for her grave. He’s caught, and after some unpleasantness, ends up in the care of Darvish (the third prince), who fixes him up. Meanwhile, in another land, a young woman called Chandra is disinclined to marry Darvish, having heard he was an alcoholic and a sex addict. She decides to investigate for herself, being a promising young wizard. And so they are all in place for adventure when the stone that keeps the volcano in Ischia from exploding vanishes.
Cue quest.
A lot of terrible things have happened to the people in this book, and some of them are more than a little problematic. Most of them happened to Aaron, actually. Once upon a time, he was clan heir in a really restrictive, violence-heavy area. His home is heavily coded barbarian; there’s rocky cliffs, not much food, a lot of violence, a lot of restrictions on sexuality (largely due to the impracticality of it, but offenders are burnt to death), and a lot of corporal punishment. It’s also particularly restrictive towards women. Aaron, who is killing-averse from a young age, also manages to fall in love with his cousin. In one way, this is a bit of a plus since on the whole he really does prefer men. On the other hand, when his father discovers them together, he has the girl flogged to death.
Which is why Aaron is after that particular punishment for thieves. As a motivation for getting him to Ischia and prompting his suicidal behavior, it works very well. As a narrative device, she was well and truly stuffed in the fridge. His cousin dies to give him pain; that pain motivates him to take action. While he does do quite a bit of reminiscing about her, and her death haunts him to the point of making him seek the same death, all we ever learn about her was that she was kind to him when few others were. The sole reason for her existence is his emotional arc.
On the bright side, the effects of her death on him are pretty well-handled, and include, in addition to the survivor’s guilt, a pretty healthy dose of PTSD and difficulty relating to his peers. Young women remind him inescapably of Ruth, so he’s terrified of them and for them. He also tends to start hallucinating her voice and presence. And young men combine forbidden desire with the terrible consequences of love, so he refuses to look at them. He’s painfully alone, except for the gem cutter Faharra, who dies after a chapter. She, however, is up to the gills with agency and story, so that’s - better. I’d really like a novel about Faharra, actually.
Darvish’s arc is a little less problematic. Cursed with sadistic, sociopathic younger siblings and competent elder siblings, he’s without a role in the kingdom. He turns to booze and sex, efficiently combining oblivion and rebellion, and both vices, later in the story, nearly kill him. His near-death from withdrawal, actually, is particularly well-written, as is the other characters’ reaction to it. What makes his arc interesting is his climb out of self-loathing and depression. It remains a problem for him, but one that, by the end of the novel, he’s learned to cope with to a large extent. One of the things that I admire about his character arc is the tension between his desire to render himself as awful in the eyes of others as he is in his own mind and his fundamentally decent nature. He rescues and tends Aaron, refuses to break the trust of his servant, and, when betrothed, his objection is as much that she deserves better than him as it is reluctance to marry on his own account.
Not that Chandra is particularly interested in marrying either. Chandra is sixteen, and her characterization is perfect. She’s awkward, prickly, arrogant, clumsily caring, roughly affectionate. And, as she informs us regularly, she is a Wizard of the Nine, which gives her some basis for her firm belief that she is better than pretty much everyone at pretty much everything. Since her mother died, she and her father have had a strained relationship, which is largely responsible for her declaration that she will never marry.
The plot itself isn’t the most gripping in the world. Sure, the Stone of Ischia has been stolen, and without it the volcano will erupt and bury the city beneath it. The quest itself is reasonable - it moves along well, and it rarely hits the road trip plot hole land mine, where something implausible happens just to move things along a bit. The ending, too, is largely predictable, and fans of fantasy will not be surprised by the Stone’s Palantir-esque behavior, nor about the solution. What really drives this book is the relationship between the characters. Darvish’s pining, Aaron’s pining, and Chandra’s completely fed-up frustration with the utter stupidity of the pair of them is excellent, and their recognition that she is essential to them as much as they are essential to each other is really cute. There’s not nearly enough making out to balance out all the pining. But for that, it’s a thoroughly satisfactory romance.
One caveat I have is the whole romantic nomad trope. Mysterious? Check. Magical? Check. Keepers of secrets and healers of people, plus dancing? Check. Huff does a decent job at characterizing the travelers, and doesn’t go into the whole thieves-and-con-artists thing that often accompanies this, but it’s something I’d like to see less of on the whole. Let us avoid exoticization and appropriation of the Romani, if at all possible!
tl;dr: This is a fun fantasy read. The romance is interesting, the characters are well-written, and the plot, while not the most exciting in the world, hangs together well. If you’re looking for a bit of entertainment, look no further! If alcoholism, fridging, and some stereotyping of cultures bothers you, you might want to give it a miss, though they’re not particularly offensive as these things go.
It is a fun, fun, novel, with tons of excellent pining and extremely sad very-fucked-up characters who are remarkably stable given their respective tragic pasts. It’s remarkably cheerful, really! If you’re looking for a silly queer romance in a high fantasy setting, this is the book for you. It contains, in addition to the tragic pasts, thievery, and threeway, a good solid dose of witty banter, volcanoes, asshole dads, bonding, and unnecessary shipwrecks. There’s a quest! It’s absurd!
The premise, in short, is that Aaron (aforementioned master thief) has come to Ischia, to steal and to court death, because Ischia has its thieves flogged to death. He runs across an old lady who was the best gem cutter in Ischia. Her masterwork was the emerald on the royal staff; when she dies, Aaron attempts to steal it for her grave. He’s caught, and after some unpleasantness, ends up in the care of Darvish (the third prince), who fixes him up. Meanwhile, in another land, a young woman called Chandra is disinclined to marry Darvish, having heard he was an alcoholic and a sex addict. She decides to investigate for herself, being a promising young wizard. And so they are all in place for adventure when the stone that keeps the volcano in Ischia from exploding vanishes.
Cue quest.
A lot of terrible things have happened to the people in this book, and some of them are more than a little problematic. Most of them happened to Aaron, actually. Once upon a time, he was clan heir in a really restrictive, violence-heavy area. His home is heavily coded barbarian; there’s rocky cliffs, not much food, a lot of violence, a lot of restrictions on sexuality (largely due to the impracticality of it, but offenders are burnt to death), and a lot of corporal punishment. It’s also particularly restrictive towards women. Aaron, who is killing-averse from a young age, also manages to fall in love with his cousin. In one way, this is a bit of a plus since on the whole he really does prefer men. On the other hand, when his father discovers them together, he has the girl flogged to death.
Which is why Aaron is after that particular punishment for thieves. As a motivation for getting him to Ischia and prompting his suicidal behavior, it works very well. As a narrative device, she was well and truly stuffed in the fridge. His cousin dies to give him pain; that pain motivates him to take action. While he does do quite a bit of reminiscing about her, and her death haunts him to the point of making him seek the same death, all we ever learn about her was that she was kind to him when few others were. The sole reason for her existence is his emotional arc.
On the bright side, the effects of her death on him are pretty well-handled, and include, in addition to the survivor’s guilt, a pretty healthy dose of PTSD and difficulty relating to his peers. Young women remind him inescapably of Ruth, so he’s terrified of them and for them. He also tends to start hallucinating her voice and presence. And young men combine forbidden desire with the terrible consequences of love, so he refuses to look at them. He’s painfully alone, except for the gem cutter Faharra, who dies after a chapter. She, however, is up to the gills with agency and story, so that’s - better. I’d really like a novel about Faharra, actually.
Darvish’s arc is a little less problematic. Cursed with sadistic, sociopathic younger siblings and competent elder siblings, he’s without a role in the kingdom. He turns to booze and sex, efficiently combining oblivion and rebellion, and both vices, later in the story, nearly kill him. His near-death from withdrawal, actually, is particularly well-written, as is the other characters’ reaction to it. What makes his arc interesting is his climb out of self-loathing and depression. It remains a problem for him, but one that, by the end of the novel, he’s learned to cope with to a large extent. One of the things that I admire about his character arc is the tension between his desire to render himself as awful in the eyes of others as he is in his own mind and his fundamentally decent nature. He rescues and tends Aaron, refuses to break the trust of his servant, and, when betrothed, his objection is as much that she deserves better than him as it is reluctance to marry on his own account.
Not that Chandra is particularly interested in marrying either. Chandra is sixteen, and her characterization is perfect. She’s awkward, prickly, arrogant, clumsily caring, roughly affectionate. And, as she informs us regularly, she is a Wizard of the Nine, which gives her some basis for her firm belief that she is better than pretty much everyone at pretty much everything. Since her mother died, she and her father have had a strained relationship, which is largely responsible for her declaration that she will never marry.
The plot itself isn’t the most gripping in the world. Sure, the Stone of Ischia has been stolen, and without it the volcano will erupt and bury the city beneath it. The quest itself is reasonable - it moves along well, and it rarely hits the road trip plot hole land mine, where something implausible happens just to move things along a bit. The ending, too, is largely predictable, and fans of fantasy will not be surprised by the Stone’s Palantir-esque behavior, nor about the solution. What really drives this book is the relationship between the characters. Darvish’s pining, Aaron’s pining, and Chandra’s completely fed-up frustration with the utter stupidity of the pair of them is excellent, and their recognition that she is essential to them as much as they are essential to each other is really cute. There’s not nearly enough making out to balance out all the pining. But for that, it’s a thoroughly satisfactory romance.
One caveat I have is the whole romantic nomad trope. Mysterious? Check. Magical? Check. Keepers of secrets and healers of people, plus dancing? Check. Huff does a decent job at characterizing the travelers, and doesn’t go into the whole thieves-and-con-artists thing that often accompanies this, but it’s something I’d like to see less of on the whole. Let us avoid exoticization and appropriation of the Romani, if at all possible!
tl;dr: This is a fun fantasy read. The romance is interesting, the characters are well-written, and the plot, while not the most exciting in the world, hangs together well. If you’re looking for a bit of entertainment, look no further! If alcoholism, fridging, and some stereotyping of cultures bothers you, you might want to give it a miss, though they’re not particularly offensive as these things go.
Read
June 27, 2020dnf 10%
wah wah this was so boring i actually went and did my homework instead
wah wah this was so boring i actually went and did my homework instead
March 20, 2019
1,5 star for a half decent cover, but hell if I'm rounding up.
August 17, 2025
I wrote this review before finding out that the book was published in 1990. I am grateful for authors including LGBTQ+ characters in their story’s before it was “common” (it still isn’t really, unfortunately) but my points still stand. Even the last bit. I do recognise though, that finding informations on volcanos and so on, would’ve been more difficult, than it is now but it would not have been impossible.
I enjoyed this book. I read it in a few days because it was easy, shallow entertainment and reminded me a little bit of reality TV. I appreciated reading a story where I didn’t have to think too much about what was happening. However, it was not a very good story.
Writing Style:
I thought it was poorly written. The writing style was plain and inconspicuous. There was no “show” and just “tell”. Everything was presented to me digestibly. I thought at times, the writing was boring and almost repetitive.
The perspectives were off. For most of the story, we followed different personal narrators who gave (more or less) deep insight to the character’s inner emotions and thoughts, however, they switched so fast, that I often couldn’t follow, which narrator was telling the story. I thought that was quite confusing, especially when it happened within a paragraph.
Some of the expressions really bothered me. I thought it was ‘cringe’ when they referred to Aarons eyebrows almost always as “demon wings”. When it appeared for the first time, I was really confused until I realised what it was supposed to mean. There were also some other wordings that of rubbed me the wrong way, but that’s personal preference, I guess.
Another thing that really felt weird, was the lack (or almost lack) of swear words. It was clearly not written for children and I didn’t understand why no one swore. I guess “by the One” meant something like “by God”, which served as a substitution for curse words but having a vulgar character like Darvish always use child-friendly language didn’t feel very authentic.
The pacing of the book was completely off. In the beginning, when Aaron breaks into the palace to steal the diamond, there is a very long passage explaining how difficult it is to pass the ward. And then he did it so fast, that I didn’t even notice. I was waiting the whole page when those wards would finally come up, until I realised, at last, we had already been across. And that’s not because I can’t read. It is because I imagined them to be a very difficult challenge, given all the warnings we heard.
The way that Chandra found out the Stone had disappeared was such a missed opportunity as well. Because we had been told in the chapter before, that the stone was gone, there was literally no tension in the whole scene and it was blatantly boring. If those two perspectives had been turned around, it would’ve made so much more sense. If I had written it, I would’ve send Aaron and Darvish to the throne room, then ended that chapter. Then I would’ve had the whole scene with Chandra and thus tell the reader in a very tense way that the stone was gone, because I actually did think the chapter could’ve been good, and then go back to Aaron and Darvish. It was like Huff spoilered her own story on multiple occasions.
There were also other instances, where I felt we spent more time worrying about an impossible challenge, than actually overcoming it. It got better towards the end of the book though. Except the last bit, where they return the stone. That went by in a blur and I had another issue with that whole volcano-thing: If they use the volcano for executions, a cage would hardly do. They did not say what material the cage was made of, as far as I can remember. A five minute google search told me, that tungsten is the metal with the highest melting point at roughly 3.500°C. Lava burns at 700-1200°C so while it would work, tungsten can not really be worked into a cage and it would surprise me very much if they randomly had this metal I have never heard of before on a little volcanic island and don’t even mention it. Assuming the cage is made of steel or iron, it would melt quite fast. Perhaps they make a new cage for every execution then? Hardly believable. Also: According to Volcano Safety, tens of meters around an active volcano crater are already considered a death zone. Aaron probably would’ve been steamed alive.
I will stop being petty now.
I get that it was a character driven story, but the world building and the connection to the world were very poorly written. We found out hardly anything about the religion. The political system and their motivations were confusing at best. Sometimes it said the King of Ytaili (Italy???) set up the whole thing, then he wasn’t interested in politics and at the same time, controlling Lords and conspiring. And who were all these people at his court? I got so confused with all the names that were never introduced and also never to be heard of again, that I gave up trying to understand it.
In the blurb, we were promised peacocks and pirates. I did not see any pirates, only smugglers and the royal navy, and I kept hoping that something cool would happen with the peacocks. It didn’t. What a disappointment.
Characters:
Huff admits in the preface, that the story was born with Aaron and I could tell. Especially Chandra felt like a prop. It got a little better as the story went on, but I thought her only character trait was thinking her father was weak (and being a Wizard of the Nine, whatever that meant, because cause the powers were never really explained) . She also tried to be obnoxious, which fits a teenaged character, but I felt like there was just no substance whatsoever to her. Which was really disappointing. I was excited for a badass wizard and all I got a was shallow, yet OP husk of a girl.
Darvish was a little better. I have to say though, that he read like a caricature of himself, which might have been what was intended, but even after his big character development and the whole ‘rehab’ situation, I still felt like he wasn’t a real person. I never really got to know the real him, which I think was another missed chance. I do believe that it was intended for him to mask and mold himself into the shapes expected of him, but where were the cracks? Where was his real character?
I felt quite similar about Aaron. I think he got off the hook lightly after being in the grip of his ptsd for pretty much the whole story. He just smashed a door in and was suddenly almost healed. Can I do that too? Also: he was meant to be a master thief, yet we didn’t see much thieving. It was clear that the author did not have a lot of knowledge about home robberies. That’s okay, neither do I, but I do assume that when the main character is a thief, you should read up on it at least some. For instance: How fast is it humanly possible to pick a specialised medieval lock? A quick reddit search told me, that those locks were very difficult to pick. I recon it would take more than a few heart beats. Modern locks can be picked within seconds, so let’s give Huff the benefit of the doubt.
I know Aaron is bisexual but also, I didn’t feel like we saw any of that. And what threw me off was the hinted love triangle (or love square?). Chandra seemed to be interested in both of the men, who are almost 10 years older than her, but it was never mentioned again. In the end, there is a scene where Aaron comforts Chandra, her hair touches his lips and he gets really nervous about it. What was that about? It could’ve been another story line, but was never mentioned again. Then we found out, about three quarters in, that Aaron can shoot a sling well enough to kill someone. It was never mentioned before. All in all, I thought the characters and the story were unbelievable and inauthentic, while also painfully predictable.
I felt queerbated by this story too, because while we did hear a lot about Aarons denial, and Darvish physical attraction and friendly feelings, the “I love you” in the end came so out of the blue for me. They didn’t even kiss. No one has to kiss to show someone else love, but I was still disappointed. There wasn’t a lot of chemistry between them. We did hear about the looks they gave each other, but I for my part didn’t feel any of it. I was grateful though for the fact that there were no graphic sex scenes. They are typical for this type of story and typically poorly written. So it was a nice change not having to skim parts of the story.
And lastly, there were typos. My review probably has a lot of them too, but it wont get printed and sold to people. If Huff had an editor, they should be fired. If she didn’t, she should get one.
There was one thing I really did appreciate about the story though, and that was the fact that Huff didn’t glorify being addicted to alcohol. I think the extend to which Darvish drank might have killed him by the point the story took place already, but I still liked to see a character battling with the grip of substance abuse without making it feel like a beautiful tragedy.
In conclusion I can say, that this book, while very entertaining and an easy read, was pretty shitty. Would I recommend it? no. Would I read it again? probably no. But I don’t regret having read it, because it brought me joy and distraction and because it helped me improve my own writing. I would not be surprised if I found out, that it was a Wattpad story and Huff was sixteen when she wrote it. It actually read exactly like the stories I uploaded on Wattpad when I was sixteen. The only things that were missing was the cover of poorly photoshops male models from pinterest, which is exactly what I imagined Darvish to look like, after I found out he had blue eyes (I tried not to though) and the comments by the author.
I enjoyed this book. I read it in a few days because it was easy, shallow entertainment and reminded me a little bit of reality TV. I appreciated reading a story where I didn’t have to think too much about what was happening. However, it was not a very good story.
Writing Style:
I thought it was poorly written. The writing style was plain and inconspicuous. There was no “show” and just “tell”. Everything was presented to me digestibly. I thought at times, the writing was boring and almost repetitive.
The perspectives were off. For most of the story, we followed different personal narrators who gave (more or less) deep insight to the character’s inner emotions and thoughts, however, they switched so fast, that I often couldn’t follow, which narrator was telling the story. I thought that was quite confusing, especially when it happened within a paragraph.
Some of the expressions really bothered me. I thought it was ‘cringe’ when they referred to Aarons eyebrows almost always as “demon wings”. When it appeared for the first time, I was really confused until I realised what it was supposed to mean. There were also some other wordings that of rubbed me the wrong way, but that’s personal preference, I guess.
Another thing that really felt weird, was the lack (or almost lack) of swear words. It was clearly not written for children and I didn’t understand why no one swore. I guess “by the One” meant something like “by God”, which served as a substitution for curse words but having a vulgar character like Darvish always use child-friendly language didn’t feel very authentic.
The pacing of the book was completely off. In the beginning, when Aaron breaks into the palace to steal the diamond, there is a very long passage explaining how difficult it is to pass the ward. And then he did it so fast, that I didn’t even notice. I was waiting the whole page when those wards would finally come up, until I realised, at last, we had already been across. And that’s not because I can’t read. It is because I imagined them to be a very difficult challenge, given all the warnings we heard.
The way that Chandra found out the Stone had disappeared was such a missed opportunity as well. Because we had been told in the chapter before, that the stone was gone, there was literally no tension in the whole scene and it was blatantly boring. If those two perspectives had been turned around, it would’ve made so much more sense. If I had written it, I would’ve send Aaron and Darvish to the throne room, then ended that chapter. Then I would’ve had the whole scene with Chandra and thus tell the reader in a very tense way that the stone was gone, because I actually did think the chapter could’ve been good, and then go back to Aaron and Darvish. It was like Huff spoilered her own story on multiple occasions.
There were also other instances, where I felt we spent more time worrying about an impossible challenge, than actually overcoming it. It got better towards the end of the book though. Except the last bit, where they return the stone. That went by in a blur and I had another issue with that whole volcano-thing: If they use the volcano for executions, a cage would hardly do. They did not say what material the cage was made of, as far as I can remember. A five minute google search told me, that tungsten is the metal with the highest melting point at roughly 3.500°C. Lava burns at 700-1200°C so while it would work, tungsten can not really be worked into a cage and it would surprise me very much if they randomly had this metal I have never heard of before on a little volcanic island and don’t even mention it. Assuming the cage is made of steel or iron, it would melt quite fast. Perhaps they make a new cage for every execution then? Hardly believable. Also: According to Volcano Safety, tens of meters around an active volcano crater are already considered a death zone. Aaron probably would’ve been steamed alive.
I will stop being petty now.
I get that it was a character driven story, but the world building and the connection to the world were very poorly written. We found out hardly anything about the religion. The political system and their motivations were confusing at best. Sometimes it said the King of Ytaili (Italy???) set up the whole thing, then he wasn’t interested in politics and at the same time, controlling Lords and conspiring. And who were all these people at his court? I got so confused with all the names that were never introduced and also never to be heard of again, that I gave up trying to understand it.
In the blurb, we were promised peacocks and pirates. I did not see any pirates, only smugglers and the royal navy, and I kept hoping that something cool would happen with the peacocks. It didn’t. What a disappointment.
Characters:
Huff admits in the preface, that the story was born with Aaron and I could tell. Especially Chandra felt like a prop. It got a little better as the story went on, but I thought her only character trait was thinking her father was weak (and being a Wizard of the Nine, whatever that meant, because cause the powers were never really explained) . She also tried to be obnoxious, which fits a teenaged character, but I felt like there was just no substance whatsoever to her. Which was really disappointing. I was excited for a badass wizard and all I got a was shallow, yet OP husk of a girl.
Darvish was a little better. I have to say though, that he read like a caricature of himself, which might have been what was intended, but even after his big character development and the whole ‘rehab’ situation, I still felt like he wasn’t a real person. I never really got to know the real him, which I think was another missed chance. I do believe that it was intended for him to mask and mold himself into the shapes expected of him, but where were the cracks? Where was his real character?
I felt quite similar about Aaron. I think he got off the hook lightly after being in the grip of his ptsd for pretty much the whole story. He just smashed a door in and was suddenly almost healed. Can I do that too? Also: he was meant to be a master thief, yet we didn’t see much thieving. It was clear that the author did not have a lot of knowledge about home robberies. That’s okay, neither do I, but I do assume that when the main character is a thief, you should read up on it at least some. For instance: How fast is it humanly possible to pick a specialised medieval lock? A quick reddit search told me, that those locks were very difficult to pick. I recon it would take more than a few heart beats. Modern locks can be picked within seconds, so let’s give Huff the benefit of the doubt.
I know Aaron is bisexual but also, I didn’t feel like we saw any of that. And what threw me off was the hinted love triangle (or love square?). Chandra seemed to be interested in both of the men, who are almost 10 years older than her, but it was never mentioned again. In the end, there is a scene where Aaron comforts Chandra, her hair touches his lips and he gets really nervous about it. What was that about? It could’ve been another story line, but was never mentioned again. Then we found out, about three quarters in, that Aaron can shoot a sling well enough to kill someone. It was never mentioned before. All in all, I thought the characters and the story were unbelievable and inauthentic, while also painfully predictable.
I felt queerbated by this story too, because while we did hear a lot about Aarons denial, and Darvish physical attraction and friendly feelings, the “I love you” in the end came so out of the blue for me. They didn’t even kiss. No one has to kiss to show someone else love, but I was still disappointed. There wasn’t a lot of chemistry between them. We did hear about the looks they gave each other, but I for my part didn’t feel any of it. I was grateful though for the fact that there were no graphic sex scenes. They are typical for this type of story and typically poorly written. So it was a nice change not having to skim parts of the story.
And lastly, there were typos. My review probably has a lot of them too, but it wont get printed and sold to people. If Huff had an editor, they should be fired. If she didn’t, she should get one.
There was one thing I really did appreciate about the story though, and that was the fact that Huff didn’t glorify being addicted to alcohol. I think the extend to which Darvish drank might have killed him by the point the story took place already, but I still liked to see a character battling with the grip of substance abuse without making it feel like a beautiful tragedy.
In conclusion I can say, that this book, while very entertaining and an easy read, was pretty shitty. Would I recommend it? no. Would I read it again? probably no. But I don’t regret having read it, because it brought me joy and distraction and because it helped me improve my own writing. I would not be surprised if I found out, that it was a Wattpad story and Huff was sixteen when she wrote it. It actually read exactly like the stories I uploaded on Wattpad when I was sixteen. The only things that were missing was the cover of poorly photoshops male models from pinterest, which is exactly what I imagined Darvish to look like, after I found out he had blue eyes (I tried not to though) and the comments by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2014
I've heard Tanya Huff mentioned often when it comes to fantasy with glbt-characters so I was really looking forward to actually reading something by her. So I'd say that "The Fire's Stone" came as a big and very nasty surprise. I noticed very early in in the book that this was not the kind of story I would enjoy. The three main characters are flat as paper, there are alot of melodramatic internal monologue written in italics and of course everyone has Very Vibrant Unusual Colored Eyes That Change Color According To Their Moods (and Lush Flowing Hair and Demonwing Eyebrows and Probably Some Rippling Muscles Too). A nice example of the horror: "Startled blue eyes met equally startled grey eyes for an instant, the question hanging in the air between them. Then the grey eyes cooled back to ice and only the blue eyes acknowledged the question." And this what most of the prose in the book look like.
Every time there was even the slightest mention of the main characters exteriors I mentally winced because apparently the author could never get enough about bragging about Their Splendid Fabulous Looks. And this was going on very late on in the books, to the point were I was going "yeah yeah, we know they're gorgeous, can we get on to the final showdown before I kill myself of boredom".
It's basically every cliché I never liked in slashfiction combined into one story (and it even has the Understanding Female Faghagfriend who helps the poor gay men get over their misunderstandings and hook up).
I'm sorry. This probably the meanest review I've ever written, but after forcing myself through this book slowly several days in a row I want to strangle myself or burn the book. (Which is on my kindle, so I can't burn it instead I'm writing this).
THANK THE GODS IT'S OVER!!
Every time there was even the slightest mention of the main characters exteriors I mentally winced because apparently the author could never get enough about bragging about Their Splendid Fabulous Looks. And this was going on very late on in the books, to the point were I was going "yeah yeah, we know they're gorgeous, can we get on to the final showdown before I kill myself of boredom".
It's basically every cliché I never liked in slashfiction combined into one story (and it even has the Understanding Female Faghagfriend who helps the poor gay men get over their misunderstandings and hook up).
I'm sorry. This probably the meanest review I've ever written, but after forcing myself through this book slowly several days in a row I want to strangle myself or burn the book. (Which is on my kindle, so I can't burn it instead I'm writing this).
THANK THE GODS IT'S OVER!!
October 10, 2023
A thief, a wizard and a prince studiously avoid walking into a bar. Not the setup to a joke, but the basis of this thoroughly enjoyable fantasy novel. Aaron, our thief, gets caught trying to steal the royal emerald but saved by the prince, Darvish. They are both then sent on a quest to recover a magic stone that stops the volcano that the city is built on from rising up and swallowing it whole. En route, they team up with Chandra, the wizard and Darvish's unwilling political fiancé. It's a good, old fashioned quest, with added alcoholism (hence the studiously avoiding the bar) and a burgeoning romance between Aaron and Darvish.
Chandra is a very powerful wizard, but she's also a sixteen year old girl, with all the turbulent emotions that come with that. She hides behind her status as a "Wizard of the Nine", using arrogance as a mask for her fear and pain. Aaron is the son of a clan chief, fleeing his own pain by locking his emotions tight, and fighting the internalised homophobia of his ancestral religion. Darvish is the third son of the king, with no power and no position at court. He drinks to take the edge off his own pain. And together this motley D&D-style adventuring partyfight crime steal (back) jewellery and figure out their emotions.
The story moves at a good pace and the protagonists are (mostly) sympathetic. I'm pleased that I figured out who the traitor was, despite the misdirection. I think the central macguffin is daft - who thought it would be a good idea to build a city on a volcano and then suppress the forces of nature using an eminently portable bauble?? - but there's still a lot to enjoy. I came to this from Huff's "Valour" MilSF series and while this is very different, I enjoyed it a lot.
Chandra is a very powerful wizard, but she's also a sixteen year old girl, with all the turbulent emotions that come with that. She hides behind her status as a "Wizard of the Nine", using arrogance as a mask for her fear and pain. Aaron is the son of a clan chief, fleeing his own pain by locking his emotions tight, and fighting the internalised homophobia of his ancestral religion. Darvish is the third son of the king, with no power and no position at court. He drinks to take the edge off his own pain. And together this motley D&D-style adventuring party
The story moves at a good pace and the protagonists are (mostly) sympathetic. I'm pleased that I figured out who the traitor was, despite the misdirection. I think the central macguffin is daft - who thought it would be a good idea to build a city on a volcano and then suppress the forces of nature using an eminently portable bauble?? - but there's still a lot to enjoy. I came to this from Huff's "Valour" MilSF series and while this is very different, I enjoyed it a lot.
December 5, 2013
This story was more fantasy and adventure, than a romance, so that was why it didn't really click for me.
It featured 3 MCs: Prince Darvish, 3 born son to a king, therefore, not the heir to the throne; Chandra, his betrothed, who wasn't interested in being his wife but pursing her studies as a wizard; and Aaron, a thief who was sentenced to die.
The story was about their quest to find a stolen magic stone, which would save their beloved Ischia from a volcano about to erupt like Pompeii. Instead of Darvish and Chandra making goo-goo eyes at each other, Prince Darvish and Aaron were fighting feelings. Aaron grew up in a home where same sex relationships were blasphemous, so he had a hard time reconciling what he was feeling for Darvish. Chandra was too obsessed with proving her magical prowess that she didn't truly want either guy.
If you like fantasy, then you will enjoy this book. It's well written and has the epic feel to it. I am like romance, with a side of fantasy, so this story didn't give me the angsty feeling that I am craving.
It featured 3 MCs: Prince Darvish, 3 born son to a king, therefore, not the heir to the throne; Chandra, his betrothed, who wasn't interested in being his wife but pursing her studies as a wizard; and Aaron, a thief who was sentenced to die.
The story was about their quest to find a stolen magic stone, which would save their beloved Ischia from a volcano about to erupt like Pompeii. Instead of Darvish and Chandra making goo-goo eyes at each other, Prince Darvish and Aaron were fighting feelings. Aaron grew up in a home where same sex relationships were blasphemous, so he had a hard time reconciling what he was feeling for Darvish. Chandra was too obsessed with proving her magical prowess that she didn't truly want either guy.
If you like fantasy, then you will enjoy this book. It's well written and has the epic feel to it. I am like romance, with a side of fantasy, so this story didn't give me the angsty feeling that I am craving.
August 10, 2011
I quite liked this, for all that I felt it moved with a faster pace than the characters or plot deserved. I liked the Darvish/Aaron angle, though the fade to black was kind of a bummer. Also, man, Aaron is kind of shit at keeping up the stoic outlander gig! He was smiling by page forty.
On the whole, a rollicking good yarn that, while engaging in the tropes, still managed to avoid them somewhat at the same time.
Points of note: remarkably well treated alcoholism; casual sexuality without an angst-bomb on every other page; female character's complete ownership of her future and herself. Great summer read.
On the whole, a rollicking good yarn that, while engaging in the tropes, still managed to avoid them somewhat at the same time.
Points of note: remarkably well treated alcoholism; casual sexuality without an angst-bomb on every other page; female character's complete ownership of her future and herself. Great summer read.
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