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Arcane Society #8
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Проклятие рода Уинтерсов…По легенде, оно обрело силу, когда двое друзей стали злейшими врагами - и один проклял другого… Прошли десятилетия, но по-прежнему каждый мужчина из этой семьи, наделенный красотой, обаянием и талантами, сходит с ума и погибает в муках. И вот настал час Гриффина. Его преследуют галлюцинации и кошмары. И единственное спасение - прекрасная и таинственная Аделаида Пайн…
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2010
484 people are currently reading
2564 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Quick
93 books5,498 followersPseudonym of Jayne Ann Krentz
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonym(s):
Jayne Ann Krentz
Jayne Castle
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonym(s):
Jayne Ann Krentz
Jayne Castle
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
September 21, 2016
MILD SPOILER ALERT
Burning Lamp is one of my favorite books this years. It was complicated, witty, clever and a delightful read. It made its place on my re-read list and will stay there forever.
Adelaide was sold as a teenage girl and she escaped with a mysterious, unstable object. She is known as The Widow, a social reformer who has a hidden talent for manipulating dreamlight. She was ambitious, difficult, stubborn, reckless and compassionate. The Widow gives fallen girls a chance to have a clean slate, dream and rebuild their lives.
Griffin Winters was a powerful crime lord, a predator and a legend on the streets. He was intelligent, suspicious, a strategist with a reputation. He manipulated shadow energy with great skill. He suffers from hallucinations and nightmares, believing that he has inherited the Winters Curse.
Adelaide doesn't know how but Griffin needs to be saved and she may be his last option. Both of them are in a position to help each other but are unwilling for personal reasons.
The past plays an important role in this book. Adelaide and Griffin had a rough childhood which forced them to grow up fast and learn to be alone. The Arcane society was founded by Nicholas Winters and Sylvester Jones. The friendship implodes and they turn into formidable rivals. They experimented with alchemy and para physics to enhance talents and increase their lifespan. Both of them left some secrets, unstable objects and hidden journals for future generations.
Griffin is determined to be free of this curse.
The Winters Curse turns a person into a Cerebrus with three talents. The talents have individual indicators :
1 the person is filled with restlessness and obsession
2 the person suffers from nightmares and terrible visions
3 the person inherits the most powerful and dangerous talent which is lethal. It is followed by insanity & death.
Amanda Quick gives her characters interesting lives and her readers get a thrilling ride. Imagine you have a rival, a nemesis, a mysterious villain and they would all love to see you dead. These people get together,order frappes, compare notes and plot against you....
This is what Griffin and Adelaide were up against and their navigation of this foggy maze was incredible.
I turned into a cheerleader while reading this : I muttered, Shoot him!!! Tell her (with a dreamy smile) Not you!! Burn !!!
The romantic developments deserve a mention. They had a slow burn relationship and it pulled me in. The interaction between these two was deliberate, filled with banter, snark, arguments and heart felt revelations. What looks like a battle of wills between two independent people emphasizes the give and take, growing trust and acceptance between them.
I loved this one a lot....words aren't enough to describe how good this book was.
If you love paranormal mysteries or slow burn historical romance, TRUST ME and give this one a try.
Burning Lamp is one of my favorite books this years. It was complicated, witty, clever and a delightful read. It made its place on my re-read list and will stay there forever.
Adelaide was sold as a teenage girl and she escaped with a mysterious, unstable object. She is known as The Widow, a social reformer who has a hidden talent for manipulating dreamlight. She was ambitious, difficult, stubborn, reckless and compassionate. The Widow gives fallen girls a chance to have a clean slate, dream and rebuild their lives.
Griffin Winters was a powerful crime lord, a predator and a legend on the streets. He was intelligent, suspicious, a strategist with a reputation. He manipulated shadow energy with great skill. He suffers from hallucinations and nightmares, believing that he has inherited the Winters Curse.
Adelaide doesn't know how but Griffin needs to be saved and she may be his last option. Both of them are in a position to help each other but are unwilling for personal reasons.
The past plays an important role in this book. Adelaide and Griffin had a rough childhood which forced them to grow up fast and learn to be alone. The Arcane society was founded by Nicholas Winters and Sylvester Jones. The friendship implodes and they turn into formidable rivals. They experimented with alchemy and para physics to enhance talents and increase their lifespan. Both of them left some secrets, unstable objects and hidden journals for future generations.
Griffin is determined to be free of this curse.
The Winters Curse turns a person into a Cerebrus with three talents. The talents have individual indicators :
1 the person is filled with restlessness and obsession
2 the person suffers from nightmares and terrible visions
3 the person inherits the most powerful and dangerous talent which is lethal. It is followed by insanity & death.
Amanda Quick gives her characters interesting lives and her readers get a thrilling ride. Imagine you have a rival, a nemesis, a mysterious villain and they would all love to see you dead. These people get together,order frappes, compare notes and plot against you....
This is what Griffin and Adelaide were up against and their navigation of this foggy maze was incredible.
I turned into a cheerleader while reading this : I muttered, Shoot him!!! Tell her (with a dreamy smile) Not you!! Burn !!!
The romantic developments deserve a mention. They had a slow burn relationship and it pulled me in. The interaction between these two was deliberate, filled with banter, snark, arguments and heart felt revelations. What looks like a battle of wills between two independent people emphasizes the give and take, growing trust and acceptance between them.
I loved this one a lot....words aren't enough to describe how good this book was.
If you love paranormal mysteries or slow burn historical romance, TRUST ME and give this one a try.
September 23, 2013
Burning Lamp: Book Two of the Dreamlight Trilogy (Arcane Society Series #8) Griffin Winters, descendant of the crazy alchemist Nicholas “Old Nick” Winters, has all the reasons in the world to think he’s going as crazy as his multiple-gran grandfather. He’s just turned 36, he’s acquired a new psychic talent (an additional one!), he’s starting to hallucinate, and his nightmares are getting worse.
These are clear symptoms of the Winters Curse. And the fact he’s the first in his family to get the Curse isn’t reassuring. He’s flying blind.
Lucky for him a woman catches his attention. And not just any woman. Adeleide Pyne, a dreamlight reader. Who also happens to be in possession of a certain Winters family heirloom. The Burning Lamp. A strange contraption created by Old Nick himself, rumored to be able to reverse the family curse.
And since Griffin doesn’t believe in coincidences, this must be fate. And when he sees Adeleide Pyne for the first time, Griffin knows it’s fate. Now they just have to survive the attempts at making the Burning Lamp work, the attempts at their lives, and surmount the biggest obstacle of all, their different lifestyles. Because an affair between a social reformer and a notorious crime lord is impossible. Or is it?
And Amanda Quick has done it again. I just love her historicals and when she throws the paranormal into the mix...Oh, joy. And Burning Lamp is no exception. I loved it from the beginning to end, there wasn’t a dull moment, the story was gripping and intense, the suspense just right, the romance just right. Everything was as close to perfect as it could’ve gone.
But what I loved most of all about this book, was the breath of fresh air it brought into the Quick-verse. First of all, the hero was a crime lord who, despite his initial rank, has spent most of his life on the streets, after his parents’ murder. All AQ heroes have a certain charisma, something that draws the heroine (and the reader) toward them, but Griffin Winters amped that charisma tenfold. This guy oozed it from his pores, and used it to his advantage, both with women and in business. I loved this bloke.
He was a self-made man, had money to burn, had a reputation of ruthlessness, yet he was fiercely protective of those around him, wracked with guilt over something that happened in his past...Not something one would associate with a brutal, cold-blooded “mobster”. And the more as the dichotomy became apparent, the more the real Griffin began to emerge.
Second refreshing fast: though she wasn’t a widow, as she at first claimed, she wasn’t a wilting violet either, and she wasn’t a virgin. While that deprived the reader (please, notice the sarcasm) of the usual historical-romance deflowering scene, it created a nice contract to the other historicals out there, and prevented the first love-scene from turning into a semi-rape. Because I’m sure that taking a virgin in a Burning-Lamp-psychic-energy-induced passionate frenzy wouldn’t have been a pretty scene. Luckily we were spared that...And the usual post-coital talk of “did I hurt you?”, “why didn’t you tell me?”, “I never dreamed it would be like this.” crap.
I still don’t know how Griffin figured out she wasn’t a widow, though. Huh.
And the third refreshing fact: the L-bomb came quite naturally (on both sides) without putting up any fight (again, on both sides). They just said it. Talked a bit more on the impossibility of their future together, and then, thanks to Adeleide’s rather brilliant idea (thought predictable), settled the matter quickly and effortlessly.
The suspense aspect of the plot was the usual AQ fare with some paranormal thrown into the mix, nothing overly spectacular, but very satisfying in its “predictability” and “series-and-author-stability”.
As I said at the beginning. I loved it from start to finish, but unlike some previous books where I liked the story and the characters were just there for the ride, Burning Lamp was all about characters and their development for me.
And I love the fact that (in both books, the first and second in this trilogy) the men from the two “warring families” (Winters and Jones) became if not exactly friends at least good allies in the end.
These are clear symptoms of the Winters Curse. And the fact he’s the first in his family to get the Curse isn’t reassuring. He’s flying blind.
Lucky for him a woman catches his attention. And not just any woman. Adeleide Pyne, a dreamlight reader. Who also happens to be in possession of a certain Winters family heirloom. The Burning Lamp. A strange contraption created by Old Nick himself, rumored to be able to reverse the family curse.
And since Griffin doesn’t believe in coincidences, this must be fate. And when he sees Adeleide Pyne for the first time, Griffin knows it’s fate. Now they just have to survive the attempts at making the Burning Lamp work, the attempts at their lives, and surmount the biggest obstacle of all, their different lifestyles. Because an affair between a social reformer and a notorious crime lord is impossible. Or is it?
And Amanda Quick has done it again. I just love her historicals and when she throws the paranormal into the mix...Oh, joy. And Burning Lamp is no exception. I loved it from the beginning to end, there wasn’t a dull moment, the story was gripping and intense, the suspense just right, the romance just right. Everything was as close to perfect as it could’ve gone.
But what I loved most of all about this book, was the breath of fresh air it brought into the Quick-verse. First of all, the hero was a crime lord who, despite his initial rank, has spent most of his life on the streets, after his parents’ murder. All AQ heroes have a certain charisma, something that draws the heroine (and the reader) toward them, but Griffin Winters amped that charisma tenfold. This guy oozed it from his pores, and used it to his advantage, both with women and in business. I loved this bloke.
He was a self-made man, had money to burn, had a reputation of ruthlessness, yet he was fiercely protective of those around him, wracked with guilt over something that happened in his past...Not something one would associate with a brutal, cold-blooded “mobster”. And the more as the dichotomy became apparent, the more the real Griffin began to emerge.
Second refreshing fast: though she wasn’t a widow, as she at first claimed, she wasn’t a wilting violet either, and she wasn’t a virgin. While that deprived the reader (please, notice the sarcasm) of the usual historical-romance deflowering scene, it created a nice contract to the other historicals out there, and prevented the first love-scene from turning into a semi-rape. Because I’m sure that taking a virgin in a Burning-Lamp-psychic-energy-induced passionate frenzy wouldn’t have been a pretty scene. Luckily we were spared that...And the usual post-coital talk of “did I hurt you?”, “why didn’t you tell me?”, “I never dreamed it would be like this.” crap.
I still don’t know how Griffin figured out she wasn’t a widow, though. Huh.
And the third refreshing fact: the L-bomb came quite naturally (on both sides) without putting up any fight (again, on both sides). They just said it. Talked a bit more on the impossibility of their future together, and then, thanks to Adeleide’s rather brilliant idea (thought predictable), settled the matter quickly and effortlessly.
The suspense aspect of the plot was the usual AQ fare with some paranormal thrown into the mix, nothing overly spectacular, but very satisfying in its “predictability” and “series-and-author-stability”.
As I said at the beginning. I loved it from start to finish, but unlike some previous books where I liked the story and the characters were just there for the ride, Burning Lamp was all about characters and their development for me.
And I love the fact that (in both books, the first and second in this trilogy) the men from the two “warring families” (Winters and Jones) became if not exactly friends at least good allies in the end.
February 16, 2021
London, England. Late in Queen Victoria’s reign. Amanda Quick’s Burning Lamp (Arcane Society, #8)(Dreamlight Trilogy, #2) is fascinating in learning about the underground passages under London which are from the medieval era and even before. One forgets just how many civilizations were built on the area that is known as 21st c. London. I read the first installment of the Dreamlight Trilogy, Fired Up, quite awhile ago and enjoyed it, but either my tastes have changed or I have read more about paranormal talents that this book, though a fairly quite read, came across as rather flat with a simplistic, too simplistic, ending. The characters are interesting, and the basic premise is good, but book, on the whole, I found disappointing. 3 stars.
May 18, 2011
I really, really want to still like Amanda Quick. She is one of the best plotters of any historical romance author I've ever read, she is great at including LGBT characters (well, heavily on the L and T, as far as I can tell), and she has a few characters with disabilities. Furthermore, this book includes people who aren't moving in society, which is something I would love to see more of in romance from this era. All of these are things that make me say, "Yay!"
...But all of Quick's heroes (extending into her other pseudonyms as well) are domineering assholes who are constantly forbidding the heroines to do things in order to protect them. "You can't make your own decisions! No! It's not safe! I'm treating you like a child for your own good!" Sure, her heroines often say, "Screw that shit," and ignore them, but that just causes the men to reprimand them, bemoan the fact that the women will be the death of them, and tell them to never disobey them again. Whereupon the women roll their eyes and say, "Yes, dear."
My mother, who still reads Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz almost at the exclusion of any other author, tries to defend that as "Just the way it was at the time." However, I don't think you can really get away with defending category romance on grounds of historical accuracy. And, well, when I'm reading a novel, I want to actually like the characters. There are plenty of other authors out there who are writing historical romance heroes who don't make me want to punch them in the face. For example, Courtney Milan, Sabrina Jeffries, and Tessa Dare. Unfortunately, while I do enjoy those authors, none of them can write plots as compelling as Amanda Quick. *sigh*
...But all of Quick's heroes (extending into her other pseudonyms as well) are domineering assholes who are constantly forbidding the heroines to do things in order to protect them. "You can't make your own decisions! No! It's not safe! I'm treating you like a child for your own good!" Sure, her heroines often say, "Screw that shit," and ignore them, but that just causes the men to reprimand them, bemoan the fact that the women will be the death of them, and tell them to never disobey them again. Whereupon the women roll their eyes and say, "Yes, dear."
My mother, who still reads Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz almost at the exclusion of any other author, tries to defend that as "Just the way it was at the time." However, I don't think you can really get away with defending category romance on grounds of historical accuracy. And, well, when I'm reading a novel, I want to actually like the characters. There are plenty of other authors out there who are writing historical romance heroes who don't make me want to punch them in the face. For example, Courtney Milan, Sabrina Jeffries, and Tessa Dare. Unfortunately, while I do enjoy those authors, none of them can write plots as compelling as Amanda Quick. *sigh*
March 28, 2012
ETA: I've decided to first list the things I liked about this book, so they don't become buried under the (more link:
1) Our heroine is a social reformer out to liberate girls who have been sold into prostitution and gift them with the choice of education and a clean slate. Also, she made her fortune in America in Wild West shows with some semi-faux work as a "medium" on the side.
2)Our hero is a "crime lord" with a conscience, forced onto the street by the murder of his parents - this and other plotlines brings in interesting class issues stuff.
3) Always glad to see the dashing Mr. Harrow and the dangerous Mr. Pierce, my favorite fictional Victorian drag king couple. Wish they would get their own book!!!11!!!
But now, a quote from my review of Fired Up, the first book in the "Dreamlight Trilogy" portion of the Arcane Society series--though as per usual with this series it takes place chronologically over a hundred years later:
Hmmm, as a whole the "Dreamlight Trilogy" section of the Arcane Society series is not my favorite, largely because the plots--especially the romance plotlines--of each of these three are almost exactly the same. In each case, we have a female Dreamlight reader who believes herself incapable of longterm romantic relationships due to her discomfort being in the presence of others while they sleep. Yet low and behold! Here comes the hero, in desperate need of her assistance (okay, like that aspect of it) to find a particular family heirloom and help him use it to ward off an old family curse. And of course, various nefarious others are trying to steal the artifact and/or our heroine.
Now, in ALL of Quick/Krenz/Castle's Arcane Society books the h/h form a psychic bond that cements their love forever and conveniently alerts them when the other is in danger. Despite the repetition of this as a plot device, I can deal with it usually when it feels like there are actual personality traits that make the couple compatible and sometimes it even seems like there might be some level of (unconscious) choice involved, but in the Dreamlight books, it feels too much like "fated to be mated" love-at-first-sight balderdash.
Yeah, on that level this one is a repeat of the last one. But despite all that, it Quick/Krenz/Castle still always insists on a Companiate Marriage model...
1) Our heroine is a social reformer out to liberate girls who have been sold into prostitution and gift them with the choice of education and a clean slate. Also, she made her fortune in America in Wild West shows with some semi-faux work as a "medium" on the side.
2)Our hero is a "crime lord" with a conscience, forced onto the street by the murder of his parents - this and other plotlines brings in interesting class issues stuff.
3) Always glad to see the dashing Mr. Harrow and the dangerous Mr. Pierce, my favorite fictional Victorian drag king couple. Wish they would get their own book!!!11!!!
But now, a quote from my review of Fired Up, the first book in the "Dreamlight Trilogy" portion of the Arcane Society series--though as per usual with this series it takes place chronologically over a hundred years later:
Hmmm, as a whole the "Dreamlight Trilogy" section of the Arcane Society series is not my favorite, largely because the plots--especially the romance plotlines--of each of these three are almost exactly the same. In each case, we have a female Dreamlight reader who believes herself incapable of longterm romantic relationships due to her discomfort being in the presence of others while they sleep. Yet low and behold! Here comes the hero, in desperate need of her assistance (okay, like that aspect of it) to find a particular family heirloom and help him use it to ward off an old family curse. And of course, various nefarious others are trying to steal the artifact and/or our heroine.
Now, in ALL of Quick/Krenz/Castle's Arcane Society books the h/h form a psychic bond that cements their love forever and conveniently alerts them when the other is in danger. Despite the repetition of this as a plot device, I can deal with it usually when it feels like there are actual personality traits that make the couple compatible and sometimes it even seems like there might be some level of (unconscious) choice involved, but in the Dreamlight books, it feels too much like "fated to be mated" love-at-first-sight balderdash.
Yeah, on that level this one is a repeat of the last one. But despite all that, it Quick/Krenz/Castle still always insists on a Companiate Marriage model...
July 6, 2020
Griffin Winters is the descendant of Nicholas Winters, famous alchemist noted for creating the Burning Lamp, a psychical tool/weapon for stabilizing the multi-talent powers of the Winters clan and which is rumored to contain a crystal that, when activated, will trigger the user to destroy the Jones family. Griffin is also a notorious crime boss in London. He meets with Adelaide Pyne, a widowed social reformer with the ability to read dreamlight, which is necessary to operate the Burning Lamp. Fearing a descent into madness as he begins to develop his third talent, Griffin asks for her assistance in using the Burning Lamp to stop the process. She agrees. But it soon becomes clear that Griffin is not the only psychic wanting Adelaide's powers (and the Burning Lamp) and after an attempt on her life, he secrets her back to his lair to protect her and to finally seduce her into his bed. Griffin knows that they belong together, but what kind of future can he offer her as a crime lord?
More fluffy suspense in historical dress. There's a teensy bit of angst here since Griffin is a crime lord and doesn't want to marry Adelaide for fear that she'd become a target...she has a handy solution to that though. I struggled with the fact that Griffin was a "crime lord" I put this in quotes because although he has the title...he's evidently not committing crimes? I struggled with how in fact he was a crime lord when it never seemed like he actually broke the law. In fact, he's a local do-gooder protecting citizens and ruling by collecting favors. Adelaide starts out with all kinds of preconceived notions (logical given his title) and he just keeps proving that he's actually an honorable and respectable guy. I guess I'd rather he be an unconvincing crime lord than a truly evil one. The characters were good together, with Adelaide having a lot of experience out west in America and bringing that eccentric character with her to London. She and Griffin were a fun pair.
As usual with this author's stories, the suspense is interesting and engaging...keeps you reading at a pretty good pace. There's the typical assassination attempts, kidnapping attempts (and successes) and showdowns with villains. A good showing, but the Dreamlight stories aren't my favorite - something about the power itself being not as interesting to me and the whole cerberus deal. Just my least favorite in the Arcane series, but still a good read.
More fluffy suspense in historical dress. There's a teensy bit of angst here since Griffin is a crime lord and doesn't want to marry Adelaide for fear that she'd become a target...she has a handy solution to that though. I struggled with the fact that Griffin was a "crime lord" I put this in quotes because although he has the title...he's evidently not committing crimes? I struggled with how in fact he was a crime lord when it never seemed like he actually broke the law. In fact, he's a local do-gooder protecting citizens and ruling by collecting favors. Adelaide starts out with all kinds of preconceived notions (logical given his title) and he just keeps proving that he's actually an honorable and respectable guy. I guess I'd rather he be an unconvincing crime lord than a truly evil one. The characters were good together, with Adelaide having a lot of experience out west in America and bringing that eccentric character with her to London. She and Griffin were a fun pair.
As usual with this author's stories, the suspense is interesting and engaging...keeps you reading at a pretty good pace. There's the typical assassination attempts, kidnapping attempts (and successes) and showdowns with villains. A good showing, but the Dreamlight stories aren't my favorite - something about the power itself being not as interesting to me and the whole cerberus deal. Just my least favorite in the Arcane series, but still a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
audio-book
January 8, 20181/8/18 Ammy $1.99
Audio
5 chapters in and so far I'm entertained. I'm liking the mystery & the MC. Narrator is good.
Audio
5 chapters in and so far I'm entertained. I'm liking the mystery & the MC. Narrator is good.
July 29, 2022
An Arcane Society Story
Reviewed: 07-26-22
This is the type of Amanda Quick story I love; fun , light hearted tales with intelligent heroines who have a life and personality independent to the hero with intriguing plots, and old world atmospheric
For me , Amanda Quick best books are historical romances set in eras before the First World War in 1914.
I read this book long ago, happy to have found it in audio.
Anne Flosnik narration was animated.
Reviewed: 07-26-22
This is the type of Amanda Quick story I love; fun , light hearted tales with intelligent heroines who have a life and personality independent to the hero with intriguing plots, and old world atmospheric
For me , Amanda Quick best books are historical romances set in eras before the First World War in 1914.
I read this book long ago, happy to have found it in audio.
Anne Flosnik narration was animated.
September 12, 2018
3.5 stars, but rounding down because Griffin annoyed me at the start of this one. Still, I tend to like the Arcane Society world, and Lucinda and Caleb were back for a bit, which was fun.
July 23, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I hate to admit this, since I DID enjoy Burning Lamp and found it a nice, easy, breezy read, witticisms and interesting characters included, but it didn't escape my notice that Burning Lamp was just a pretty repetition of Fired Up, but in an historical setting. Dialogue and actions and some of the scenes were very similar, and while I applaud Amanda Quick's smooth connections between contemporary and historical (as well as all that foreshadowing that we already know occurs since the contemporary time line came first), it just wasn't as memorable an experience as I would have liked given that Fired Up came first.
Not the entire book is the same, of course. I do love the interactions between all of our characters, Adelaide and Griffin, Mrs. Trevelyan and Delbert, and even with Jed and Leggert, and the inclusion of Caleb and Lucinda Jones.
Burning Lamp is a nice bridging connection between the first book in the Dreamlight trilogy, and the last, but I can't help but realize that not much occurs in this book that we don't already know about. Very little forward progress is made, and it makes me feel that the next and last book in this sub-trilogy will really need to step it up in order to bring the story arc of the 'Winters Curse' and the 'Burning Lamp' to a close.
Frankly, given my love for the Harmony series, obviously my hopes are pretty high; although even if things don't turn out the way I want, I'll still enjoy myself. Seeing as how Midnight Crystal will involve not only the cursed Winters man, but also a dreamlight reader who's last name is Jones, I'm feeling that a lot of things will come full circle into a nice wrap up. After all, the Winters and the Jones are supposed to be enemies, according to legend.
All else fails, Harmony books always play up the dust bunnies to make everyone happy--I'm not above swooning over dust bunnies if the book itself doesn't entirely entice me.
***
Booklikes-opoly
Roll #29:
Book takes place in England (counts as an island).
Page Count: 328
Cash Award: +$9.00
Updated Bank Balance: $219.00
I hate to admit this, since I DID enjoy Burning Lamp and found it a nice, easy, breezy read, witticisms and interesting characters included, but it didn't escape my notice that Burning Lamp was just a pretty repetition of Fired Up, but in an historical setting. Dialogue and actions and some of the scenes were very similar, and while I applaud Amanda Quick's smooth connections between contemporary and historical (as well as all that foreshadowing that we already know occurs since the contemporary time line came first), it just wasn't as memorable an experience as I would have liked given that Fired Up came first.
Not the entire book is the same, of course. I do love the interactions between all of our characters, Adelaide and Griffin, Mrs. Trevelyan and Delbert, and even with Jed and Leggert, and the inclusion of Caleb and Lucinda Jones.
Burning Lamp is a nice bridging connection between the first book in the Dreamlight trilogy, and the last, but I can't help but realize that not much occurs in this book that we don't already know about. Very little forward progress is made, and it makes me feel that the next and last book in this sub-trilogy will really need to step it up in order to bring the story arc of the 'Winters Curse' and the 'Burning Lamp' to a close.
Frankly, given my love for the Harmony series, obviously my hopes are pretty high; although even if things don't turn out the way I want, I'll still enjoy myself. Seeing as how Midnight Crystal will involve not only the cursed Winters man, but also a dreamlight reader who's last name is Jones, I'm feeling that a lot of things will come full circle into a nice wrap up. After all, the Winters and the Jones are supposed to be enemies, according to legend.
All else fails, Harmony books always play up the dust bunnies to make everyone happy--I'm not above swooning over dust bunnies if the book itself doesn't entirely entice me.
***
Booklikes-opoly
Roll #29:
Book takes place in England (counts as an island).
Page Count: 328
Cash Award: +$9.00
Updated Bank Balance: $219.00
April 25, 2010
Although the "Arcane Society" is starting to weary me, there's nothing like a good historical paranormal romance/mystery when you don't want to think too hard.
Plot 1: Adelaide, having recovered from a near-trauma in a brothel at age 15, has decided 13 years later to raid brothels and provide schooling and business skills to the women she frees.
Plot 2: Adelaide has a weird artifact seething with psychic energy that she obtained during said near-trauma. What to do with it now that she's returned to London?
Plot 3: Griffin, Crime Lord (yes, Crime Lord), fears he will go insane like a long-ago ancestor unless he can find a weird artifact seething with psychic energy AND a psychically talented woman to help guide its power.
Kiss kiss, passion passion, mysterious foe, mysterious foe, enemy turned friend, a couple who have each decided they must be forever single, a heroine who doesn't like being protected etc. Krentz has her formula down, and I think that's why these are getting boring to me, but this was still a decent read.
Plot 1: Adelaide, having recovered from a near-trauma in a brothel at age 15, has decided 13 years later to raid brothels and provide schooling and business skills to the women she frees.
Plot 2: Adelaide has a weird artifact seething with psychic energy that she obtained during said near-trauma. What to do with it now that she's returned to London?
Plot 3: Griffin, Crime Lord (yes, Crime Lord), fears he will go insane like a long-ago ancestor unless he can find a weird artifact seething with psychic energy AND a psychically talented woman to help guide its power.
Kiss kiss, passion passion, mysterious foe, mysterious foe, enemy turned friend, a couple who have each decided they must be forever single, a heroine who doesn't like being protected etc. Krentz has her formula down, and I think that's why these are getting boring to me, but this was still a decent read.
May 2, 2011
Nothing like a favorite author to get you really enjoying reading. Reading anything by JAK is like wrapping up in a big, comfy blanket in front of a fire on a cold evening - total comfort reads for me. This follows the same rules as all of Quick's books. An independent, smart heroine in over her head and a mysterious, capable hero who wants to protect her.
What I enjoyed:
* The hero and heroine. The crime lord and the social reformer. They made a great pair.
* Seeing Caleb and Lucinda again.
* The supporting characters.
What could have been better:
* The villain could have been a bit smarter.
What I enjoyed:
* The hero and heroine. The crime lord and the social reformer. They made a great pair.
* Seeing Caleb and Lucinda again.
* The supporting characters.
What could have been better:
* The villain could have been a bit smarter.
June 28, 2010
I feel like I've read this exact book so many times before. There were so many repeating elements. I usually like Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz, but this book was boooooring!
The whole psychic battle thing just doesn't work for me anymore. There's no feeling of real conflict and you know the good guys are going to win so I found myself skimming, just trying to finish.
Overall, she's a good writer and I don't want to discourage anyone who's a fan, but I think I'm over this series now. (...we'll see.)
The whole psychic battle thing just doesn't work for me anymore. There's no feeling of real conflict and you know the good guys are going to win so I found myself skimming, just trying to finish.
Overall, she's a good writer and I don't want to discourage anyone who's a fan, but I think I'm over this series now. (...we'll see.)
April 24, 2010
Another typical Amanda Quick--witty dialogue, interesting characters, a satisfactory romance and a touch of the paranormal. What's not to like?
Those familiar with the series will get all the inside references to other characters from other books, but the story can stand by itself and serve as a way into the Dreamlight story arc or the overall Arcane story arc.
A fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Those familiar with the series will get all the inside references to other characters from other books, but the story can stand by itself and serve as a way into the Dreamlight story arc or the overall Arcane story arc.
A fun way to spend a couple of hours.
June 23, 2010
I like the contemporary Arcane novels best but it was nice to re-visit the historical time frame, this time with Adelaide and Griffin.
The paranormal abilities dealing with dreamlight and shadows in this installment were interesting.
The paranormal abilities dealing with dreamlight and shadows in this installment were interesting.
March 9, 2019
Adelaide finds herself sold into a brothel and fights the man that comes to claim her for her talent. She is a dreamlight reader. This is a psychic ability to read a person's dream and intentions based on a lingering aura in whatever they touched or where ever they walked. A person who has this ability can also work the burning lamp.
Adelaide steals the lamp and goes to America but returns after some time only to find that another man wants to have her help. He is the director of a group of underworld criminals. He needs Adelaide help to work the lamp because it is the only way he will stop from loosing his mind.
I found this, like all the other books of Arcane to be highly entertaining. I love the world of the psychic abilities and thoroughly enjoy the series.
Adelaide steals the lamp and goes to America but returns after some time only to find that another man wants to have her help. He is the director of a group of underworld criminals. He needs Adelaide help to work the lamp because it is the only way he will stop from loosing his mind.
I found this, like all the other books of Arcane to be highly entertaining. I love the world of the psychic abilities and thoroughly enjoy the series.
July 3, 2021
I’ve read this one before. It’s the story of Griffin Winters, the late-Victorian descendant of Nicholas Winters. Winters forged the paranormal Burning Lamp that supposedly “downloads” a second psychical talent into a Winters male descendant. A female dreamlight reader is needed to operate the lamp. Adelaide Pyne is a powerful dreamlight reader and Griffin bargains with her to reverse the second talent to keep from going mad.
Adelaide is a great heroine. I particularly enjoyed the collaboration between Griffin/Adelaide and Caleb/Lucinda.
Adelaide is a great heroine. I particularly enjoyed the collaboration between Griffin/Adelaide and Caleb/Lucinda.
April 8, 2017
3.25 One-Time read Stars
September 27, 2020
The Victorian story of the powerful lamp that unites the Winter men to women who can manipulate the dream light.
April 22, 2024
A decent historical romance. A strong female lead, a multifaceted male protagonist, and a sufficiently evil villain made this book a typical romantic thriller, a staple of this writer. I'm not in love, but I enjoyed reading it. The paranormal angle didn't hurt either. I love this author's Arcane Society novels.
It was a re-read, of course. I first read it when it came out in 2010, but it was so long ago, I didn't remember any details, so the story read afresh.
It was a re-read, of course. I first read it when it came out in 2010, but it was so long ago, I didn't remember any details, so the story read afresh.
August 22, 2019
LOVED IT
July 5, 2021
A really interesting addition to the arcane society!! And the glimpse of Sweetwater for the next book was super fun! Liked the Winters’ curse story and how Adelaide figured out what was really the case! Enjoyed Griffin trying to keep her on the sidelines to no avail.
July 14, 2016
I liked the first book better, I think. Both books are a bit longer than they need to be. This series has a lot of repetition, that I get some is necessary, but not to that extent.
This book has the same premise as before: A Winters man needs a female dreamlight talent to help him work the Burning Lamp to help him keep from going insane.
The Victorian Era holds many new inventions and discoveries, and all of those only fuel the fire for psychic discoveries amongst those who have the talents. The original Winters alchemist who started all this was Nicholas Winters. He created the Burning Lamp to enhance his psychic talents. But he was driven mad by the amount of power, or so the legend goes.
But as we see, all legends are rooted in truth.
Adelaide becomes more to Griffin than just a dreamlight worker. But he knew that from the moment he met her. Griffin does everything he can to protect Adelaide, because she has her own demons she's facing.
But can London's biggest crime lord help a respectable woman like Adelaide? Or will she end up helping him?
I like how we get to see the previous couples without feeling confused.
I also like this whole series and the concept for this trilogy, but I just don't love this book. However, I'm super excited to read the next one Midnight Crystal because I love the Harmony world she's created. And I'm excited to see where this is leading. I mean, I see how all 3 plots mirror each other, but it'll be neat to see it play out. Even if it is a bit same-y.
I think for the most part you can pick up an Arcane book and not be confused. However, this particular trilogy, which is smack dab in the series, should definitely be read in order.
This book has the same premise as before: A Winters man needs a female dreamlight talent to help him work the Burning Lamp to help him keep from going insane.
The Victorian Era holds many new inventions and discoveries, and all of those only fuel the fire for psychic discoveries amongst those who have the talents. The original Winters alchemist who started all this was Nicholas Winters. He created the Burning Lamp to enhance his psychic talents. But he was driven mad by the amount of power, or so the legend goes.
But as we see, all legends are rooted in truth.
Adelaide becomes more to Griffin than just a dreamlight worker. But he knew that from the moment he met her. Griffin does everything he can to protect Adelaide, because she has her own demons she's facing.
But can London's biggest crime lord help a respectable woman like Adelaide? Or will she end up helping him?
I like how we get to see the previous couples without feeling confused.
I also like this whole series and the concept for this trilogy, but I just don't love this book. However, I'm super excited to read the next one Midnight Crystal because I love the Harmony world she's created. And I'm excited to see where this is leading. I mean, I see how all 3 plots mirror each other, but it'll be neat to see it play out. Even if it is a bit same-y.
I think for the most part you can pick up an Arcane book and not be confused. However, this particular trilogy, which is smack dab in the series, should definitely be read in order.
August 9, 2014
Crime Lord and the Social Reformer
BURNING LAMP is the second book in the Dreamlight Trilogy and the eighth book in the Arcane Society series. The Arcane series is about those with paranormal abilities. The books span historicals (Amanda Quick), contemporaries (Jayne Ann Krentz) and futuristics (Jayne Castle). The Arcane series overall concerns various people who are attempting to use various means to enhance their paranormal talents for criminal purposes. The Dreamlight Trilogy is an internal trilogy to the series. It deals with the descendants of Nicholas Winters who attempted to enhance his paranormal talents by use of a device known as the Burning Lamp. The result of those experiments altered the DNA of the Winters descendants. Some Winters men develop enhanced talents where they need the burning lamp and a woman who can help work the lamp to save the Winters men.
BURNING LAMP is the story of Griffin Winters, a crime lord, who ended up on the streets after the death of his parents. He has created a profitable criminal enterprise. He meets Adelaide Pyne, a social reformer, who is also the woman who can help Griffin work the Burning Lamp.
I really liked Griffin and Adelaide since there is great darkness in their pasts. They end up helping one see the possibilities of a life together. These are different characters than others in the Arcane series because both have difficult pasts that they have to overcome. I also liked the plot of this book. It manages to bring together characters that have been present through the series. This book is big and romantic and I love the resolution of events.
BURNING LAMP is the second book in the Dreamlight Trilogy and the eighth book in the Arcane Society series. The Arcane series is about those with paranormal abilities. The books span historicals (Amanda Quick), contemporaries (Jayne Ann Krentz) and futuristics (Jayne Castle). The Arcane series overall concerns various people who are attempting to use various means to enhance their paranormal talents for criminal purposes. The Dreamlight Trilogy is an internal trilogy to the series. It deals with the descendants of Nicholas Winters who attempted to enhance his paranormal talents by use of a device known as the Burning Lamp. The result of those experiments altered the DNA of the Winters descendants. Some Winters men develop enhanced talents where they need the burning lamp and a woman who can help work the lamp to save the Winters men.
BURNING LAMP is the story of Griffin Winters, a crime lord, who ended up on the streets after the death of his parents. He has created a profitable criminal enterprise. He meets Adelaide Pyne, a social reformer, who is also the woman who can help Griffin work the Burning Lamp.
I really liked Griffin and Adelaide since there is great darkness in their pasts. They end up helping one see the possibilities of a life together. These are different characters than others in the Arcane series because both have difficult pasts that they have to overcome. I also liked the plot of this book. It manages to bring together characters that have been present through the series. This book is big and romantic and I love the resolution of events.
October 25, 2025
Overall: 4⭐️
Concept/Premise: 4🤯
Plot/Storyline: 4🎢
World-building: 3.5🏞
Characters: 4🧙♀️🧚🧝♀️
Relationships: 3😍🥰
Spice/Romance: 3🍆🌶
Impact/Vibes: 4💓〰️
Writing/Style: 2.5✍️📝
Updating my review and rating after about the 5th re-read of this series. This series is a comfort series for me and one of my first forays into romance novels back in the day. I love the paranormal/ suspense twist and the underlying concept of the whole series. Admittedly the writing is dated. It can feel very formulaic as you go through the series. But I just don't care.
Adelaide and Griffin are stand outs in the series for me. I love the books set in the Victorian era, and this is one of my favorites because it shows the reverse of high society with the crime lord angle. Adelaide isn't the simpering virgin like in some of the other books, but a Wild West bad ass who takes no shit. There's something a little more developed about the characters in this novel than in some of the others.
Concept/Premise: 4🤯
Plot/Storyline: 4🎢
World-building: 3.5🏞
Characters: 4🧙♀️🧚🧝♀️
Relationships: 3😍🥰
Spice/Romance: 3🍆🌶
Impact/Vibes: 4💓〰️
Writing/Style: 2.5✍️📝
Updating my review and rating after about the 5th re-read of this series. This series is a comfort series for me and one of my first forays into romance novels back in the day. I love the paranormal/ suspense twist and the underlying concept of the whole series. Admittedly the writing is dated. It can feel very formulaic as you go through the series. But I just don't care.
Adelaide and Griffin are stand outs in the series for me. I love the books set in the Victorian era, and this is one of my favorites because it shows the reverse of high society with the crime lord angle. Adelaide isn't the simpering virgin like in some of the other books, but a Wild West bad ass who takes no shit. There's something a little more developed about the characters in this novel than in some of the others.
February 2, 2012
If you like Amanda Quick books, then you will like this one. One thing I like about her writing is that we rarely see a historical setting for the paranormal.
The down side? If you have read one Amanda Quick book, then you have read them all. Pretty much every hero and heroine are the same, no matter what book. Believe me, I've read most and the male is usually emotionally broken, social outcast (even if he is in the Ton) and by learning to love our hot chic he learns to live again.
Not bad, but if every book is the same thing, why read more than one book?
Again, if you like Amanda Quick, then you will like this book. It's a fast, easy read and you will be entertained. If you are looking for hot steamy sex scenes, then this book is not for you.
The down side? If you have read one Amanda Quick book, then you have read them all. Pretty much every hero and heroine are the same, no matter what book. Believe me, I've read most and the male is usually emotionally broken, social outcast (even if he is in the Ton) and by learning to love our hot chic he learns to live again.
Not bad, but if every book is the same thing, why read more than one book?
Again, if you like Amanda Quick, then you will like this book. It's a fast, easy read and you will be entertained. If you are looking for hot steamy sex scenes, then this book is not for you.
May 2, 2015
Cartea aceasta a avu multă acţiune şi mult suspans. Am lecturat-o cu mare plăcere şi, pur şi simplu, nu am putut s-o las din mână. Ce m-a cam enervat la ea, a fost lipsa romantismului. Mi-ar fi plăcut să văd cum evoluează relaţia de dragoste a Adelaidei cu Griffin, nu să sară de la câteva sărutări şi alea-alea, direct la "te iubesc".
Personajele au fost destul de interesante. Amândoi încăpăţânaţi, devotaţi "meseriei" pe care o întreprind şi cu puteri paranormale, mocnind în ei o pasiune şi nişte senzaţii tulburătoare, ce-i determină pe cei doi să realizeze că legătura dintre ei este mult mai puternică.
Mai multe aici: http://shattering-words.blogspot.ro/2...
Personajele au fost destul de interesante. Amândoi încăpăţânaţi, devotaţi "meseriei" pe care o întreprind şi cu puteri paranormale, mocnind în ei o pasiune şi nişte senzaţii tulburătoare, ce-i determină pe cei doi să realizeze că legătura dintre ei este mult mai puternică.
Mai multe aici: http://shattering-words.blogspot.ro/2...
May 17, 2014
This was a romance with paranormal elements, the second in a series. The two lead characters, Adelaide and Mr. Winters are "talents"- people with a magical talent. Mr. Winters (whose first name escapes me) can pull shadows around him so he is almost invisible and can also induce nightmares in people. Adelaide Pyne is a dream reader. Winters needs her to help him tune a magical lamp created by his ancestor- that may keep him from going insane. The story develops as you would expect in a romance. There is some danger and tension, but nothing too gruesome or terrifying. The "good guys" are very likeable. It was enjoyable, if not thrilling.
September 7, 2024
MY RATING GUIDE: 4 Stars. I enjoy Krentz’s writing in each of her genres - Historical, Contemporary or Future. Her characters are intelligent, resilient and capable. The MCs work together toward a common goal. The books are dialogue driven, move quickly, contain a fun sense of humor and are low in angst. This was a reread for me.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
BURNING LAMP features Griffin Winters, a man whose parents, although wealthy, were viciously murdered leaving Griffin alone and on the streets at the age of 16. Griffin immediately determined to not only survive the streets but to thrive with the goal of someday identifying and revenging his parents’ deaths. Griffin’s inherited gift for investments and good planning has stood him well over the years and he now operates one of London’s strongest criminal enterprises. Unfortunately, the Winters’ family has a history in the Arcane Society (a group of people with something a little bit “extra” in their dna beginning in the 1600’s or earlier). Certain male descendants in the Winters’ line are rumored to become dangerous, possibly murderous and/or insane after they hit their mid-30’s unless they can locate a powerful Dreamlight reader to rescue them. Griffin fears he may soon become a victim of this family tragedy so he has begun his search for such a person.
Adelaide Pyne has only recently returned from America where she escaped for 13yrs after she discovered herself suddenly orphaned and physically threatened at the age of 15. Ade is a Dreamlight talent. Besides seeing auroras, which has allowed her to read people and avoid dangerous situations more than once, Ade can also operate Dreamlight frequencies - another saving grace. Ade isn’t sure why she felt a need to return to England. She simply felt it was time to come home so she listened to her instincts and boarded a ship. When Griffin finally approaches Adelaide a few of her questions are answered but Griffin brings substantial danger as well.
Comments ~
1) BURNING LAMP is the Historical bk in Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle’s MIXED genre (Historical, Contemporary, Future fiction) DREAMLIGHT TRILOGY, 3 books each featuring certain descendants of Nicholas Winters (who was born in the 1600’s). Each book (in the trilogy or Arcane series) can be read as a Standalone novel but I enjoy reading them together, in order.
2) Author Krentz (Quick/Castle) numbers the 12 books in her Arcane series differently than I read them. I prefer reading books in chronological order (Historical, Contemporary and then Future). Krentz has the DREAMLIGHT trilogy numbered: FIRED UP, as bk1 (Contemporary fiction); BURNING LAMP, as bk2 in the trilogy (Historical fiction); and MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL, as bk3 in the trilogy (Future fiction). Certain events in BURNING LAMP are mentioned later in both FIRED UP AND MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL, as certain events in FIRED UP are mentioned in MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL. IMO, it makes the most sense to read these books chronologically, as I do. (Perhaps the publisher had an influence in the publishing order, because otherwise???) This is better explained below.
3) Krentz’s Arcane series is a group of 12 books comprised of 4 different trilogies (or 4 sets of 3). Certain secondary characters from the same time period overlap (whether the Historicals, Contemporary or the Future fiction) and characters from the Historical books are (sometimes) mentioned in the Contemporary or the Future books. I tend to read the 12 books as trilogies, beginning with the Historical book first in each set - if the trilogy consists of more than 1 time period (some of the trilogies are all Historical or all Contemporary - which is less complicated).
4) Quick/Krentz/Castle is a favorite author and this was a reread for me as I am reading and listening my way through the 12 book Arcane series again and reviewing each book separately. (I recently purchased the audiobooks). As mentioned above, my reading order differs from Krentz’s but makes more sense to me. I’ve listed it below:
The 12 book ARCANE SERIES books
> The SYLVESTER JONES Family - a Historical trilogy
1) SECOND SIGHT
2) THIRD CIRCLE
3)PERFECT POISON
> The JONES families+ - a Contemporary trilogy
4) WHITE LIES
5) SIZZLE AND BURN
6) RUNNING HOT
> The DREAMLIGHT trilogy/features the WINTERS family - a Mixed Period trilogy
7) BURNING LAMP - Historical
8) FIRED UP - Contemporary
9) MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL - Future period
> The LOOKING GLASS trilogy - a Mixed Period trilogy
10) QUICKSILVER - Historical
10.5) SCARGILL COVE FILES - a Contemporary Short Story prequel
11) IN TOO DEEP - Contemporary
12) CANYONS OF THE NIGHT - Future period (Introduction to the Rainshadow Island 5 bk series - CANYONS OF THE NIGHT, LOST NIGHT, DECEPTION COVE, HOT ZONE & SIREN’S CALL).
I recommend Quick/Krentz/Castle novels to readers who enjoy:
> Fast action/adventures with occasionally a touch of the paranormal (not always).
> Strong, capable, intelligent characters who generally work as a team toward a common goal.
> Dialogue driven novels.
> Underlying humor/a light tone with Justice prevailing in the end.
> Low drama/angst and few tstl scenes/characters.
> Mature/Seasoned characters (who have survived life’s various difficulties, becoming wiser from it).
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used on occasion.
VIOLENCE - PG.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Open door intimacy scenes occur (3?) several times which could be skipped if desired.
OTHER - Paranormal talents feature in the Arcane series. These are natural gifts rather like intuition, not to be confused with witchcraft, the occult, demons or the like.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
BURNING LAMP features Griffin Winters, a man whose parents, although wealthy, were viciously murdered leaving Griffin alone and on the streets at the age of 16. Griffin immediately determined to not only survive the streets but to thrive with the goal of someday identifying and revenging his parents’ deaths. Griffin’s inherited gift for investments and good planning has stood him well over the years and he now operates one of London’s strongest criminal enterprises. Unfortunately, the Winters’ family has a history in the Arcane Society (a group of people with something a little bit “extra” in their dna beginning in the 1600’s or earlier). Certain male descendants in the Winters’ line are rumored to become dangerous, possibly murderous and/or insane after they hit their mid-30’s unless they can locate a powerful Dreamlight reader to rescue them. Griffin fears he may soon become a victim of this family tragedy so he has begun his search for such a person.
Adelaide Pyne has only recently returned from America where she escaped for 13yrs after she discovered herself suddenly orphaned and physically threatened at the age of 15. Ade is a Dreamlight talent. Besides seeing auroras, which has allowed her to read people and avoid dangerous situations more than once, Ade can also operate Dreamlight frequencies - another saving grace. Ade isn’t sure why she felt a need to return to England. She simply felt it was time to come home so she listened to her instincts and boarded a ship. When Griffin finally approaches Adelaide a few of her questions are answered but Griffin brings substantial danger as well.
Comments ~
1) BURNING LAMP is the Historical bk in Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle’s MIXED genre (Historical, Contemporary, Future fiction) DREAMLIGHT TRILOGY, 3 books each featuring certain descendants of Nicholas Winters (who was born in the 1600’s). Each book (in the trilogy or Arcane series) can be read as a Standalone novel but I enjoy reading them together, in order.
2) Author Krentz (Quick/Castle) numbers the 12 books in her Arcane series differently than I read them. I prefer reading books in chronological order (Historical, Contemporary and then Future). Krentz has the DREAMLIGHT trilogy numbered: FIRED UP, as bk1 (Contemporary fiction); BURNING LAMP, as bk2 in the trilogy (Historical fiction); and MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL, as bk3 in the trilogy (Future fiction). Certain events in BURNING LAMP are mentioned later in both FIRED UP AND MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL, as certain events in FIRED UP are mentioned in MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL. IMO, it makes the most sense to read these books chronologically, as I do. (Perhaps the publisher had an influence in the publishing order, because otherwise???) This is better explained below.
3) Krentz’s Arcane series is a group of 12 books comprised of 4 different trilogies (or 4 sets of 3). Certain secondary characters from the same time period overlap (whether the Historicals, Contemporary or the Future fiction) and characters from the Historical books are (sometimes) mentioned in the Contemporary or the Future books. I tend to read the 12 books as trilogies, beginning with the Historical book first in each set - if the trilogy consists of more than 1 time period (some of the trilogies are all Historical or all Contemporary - which is less complicated).
4) Quick/Krentz/Castle is a favorite author and this was a reread for me as I am reading and listening my way through the 12 book Arcane series again and reviewing each book separately. (I recently purchased the audiobooks). As mentioned above, my reading order differs from Krentz’s but makes more sense to me. I’ve listed it below:
The 12 book ARCANE SERIES books
> The SYLVESTER JONES Family - a Historical trilogy
1) SECOND SIGHT
2) THIRD CIRCLE
3)PERFECT POISON
> The JONES families+ - a Contemporary trilogy
4) WHITE LIES
5) SIZZLE AND BURN
6) RUNNING HOT
> The DREAMLIGHT trilogy/features the WINTERS family - a Mixed Period trilogy
7) BURNING LAMP - Historical
8) FIRED UP - Contemporary
9) MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL - Future period
> The LOOKING GLASS trilogy - a Mixed Period trilogy
10) QUICKSILVER - Historical
10.5) SCARGILL COVE FILES - a Contemporary Short Story prequel
11) IN TOO DEEP - Contemporary
12) CANYONS OF THE NIGHT - Future period (Introduction to the Rainshadow Island 5 bk series - CANYONS OF THE NIGHT, LOST NIGHT, DECEPTION COVE, HOT ZONE & SIREN’S CALL).
I recommend Quick/Krentz/Castle novels to readers who enjoy:
> Fast action/adventures with occasionally a touch of the paranormal (not always).
> Strong, capable, intelligent characters who generally work as a team toward a common goal.
> Dialogue driven novels.
> Underlying humor/a light tone with Justice prevailing in the end.
> Low drama/angst and few tstl scenes/characters.
> Mature/Seasoned characters (who have survived life’s various difficulties, becoming wiser from it).
READER CAUTION ~ Not recommended to readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used on occasion.
VIOLENCE - PG.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Open door intimacy scenes occur (3?) several times which could be skipped if desired.
OTHER - Paranormal talents feature in the Arcane series. These are natural gifts rather like intuition, not to be confused with witchcraft, the occult, demons or the like.
January 12, 2011
The romance was too abrupt. It needed much more focus and time spent developing it. Other than that, the story was just fine and I liked the characters. I agree with those who've said the story is Fired Up revisited and repackaged as an historical. But that doesn't really bother me. I liked Griffin as a character and thought Adelaide was fine, but not well-developed. The "bad guys" don't figure into the book much at all. I can't help but feel JAK is getting a little tired of her own series. The series needs something fresh, and more character and story development.
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