Dreams of Fire

Dreams #1

by Christian Cura

Meet Kara Hartman, a young painter living and working in D.C. She would love to let you believe she is just an ordinary young woman with a dream of sharing her art with the world. But she is hiding an astonishing secret: Kara can wield magic, the most powerful force in the universe. Traumatized by the loss of her brother, she wants nothing more to do with magic. But when an old foe resurfaces, hellbent on destroying all that she loves, Kara has no choice but to embrace the only power that can stop her.

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

ebook

First published December 5, 2019

About the author

Christian Cura is a new author who just recently published his debut novel Dreams of Fire. Ever since he read Lord of the Rings as a teenager, it has been his dream to write and publish a novel of his own. His favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and Robert Jordan.

Christian lives in Northern Virginia where he lifts weights and creates artwork. He is a Gryffindor, an Earth-bender, and a loyal follower of Optimus Prime. When he is not writing, he can be found drawing or getting beaten up at his MMA gym.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian Cura’s DREAMS OF FIRE is a steadily moving tale of one woman who has forsaken her magic after tragedy struck long ago. Making a living as a successful artist, she finds romance with a woman she met by chance, a world that accepts her and a measure of peace of mind. But her peace will soon be shattered when her past comes back to haunt her, threatening all that she holds dear.

Prepared for some violence, romance and the struggles one woman will endure as she comes face to face with the reality that she cannot leave her magic behind.

Christian Cura has a good story here, I think I expected more tension and action, so that is on me. I just wasn’t totally invested and at times the story seemed to drag just a bit. I will say this, I definitely will look for more from this author in the future!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Christian Cura. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Expected publication date: December 2019 /January 2020
Genre: Paranormal | Gay-Lesbian
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreams of Fire by Christian Cura is a fantasy novel, and the first in the Kara Hartman series.

First, let me thank the author for approaching me, and for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Magic is commonplace, and both the mystics and the non-magical people mingle.

In the Canadian wilderness stands a prison, run by Warden John Hartman.  The prison is designed for the protection of non-magical people.  Within its walls are rogue magicians being kept in check by a glowing crimson tower which distinguishes their powers.  The Enforcers, who wear a bracelet that allows them to retain their magic, guard the inmates with their lives.  Part of the prison is a training center for new recruits.

One of these recruits is a young woman named Saba Quereshi, whose reasons for being there are her own.

Among the prisoners is Charlotte Grey,  who has vowed vengeance upon the woman who put her there.  Her one-time best friend, and the Warden's sister, Kara Hartman.

Kara, a successful young artist,  rarely uses her magic after tragically losing her younger brother.  She even hides her magic from her co-workers.  When she meets Selene, a demon-hunter, she falls in love.  But Kara's past is about to rear its ugly head, and put everyone she loves in jeopardy.

 
My Opinions:  

This is a debut novel, and the author will definitely be on my "watch" list.  This  is a story of love, and loss, and vengeance.  The overall premise of the book was very good.

Now, I am all about love, in real life....but not in my books.  I had nothing against the lesbian romance in this book, but I am not a romance reader period, so I could have done without it. The romance angle took up about half of the book, and that was a little much for me.  Perhaps that is why I felt the first half of the book dragged.   As well, sometimes the dialogue was a little stilted, and sometimes the descriptions for a little too lengthy, and I found myself skimming, which is never good.

All that being said....it was a very good plot, a really interesting story, and the characters were all well-designed.  Half way in, the author finally got to the real story, and from there on, it was quite good.  There was a lot of action, and the book left off at a good spot, allowing the reader to envision what comes next. I do plan on reading the next one!

On a side note, I love the cover.


For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews

Dreams of Fire was interesting paranormal, urban fantasy that revolved around Kara Hartman who forsaken her magic after tragedy. It was bout loss, vengeance, friendship, love and magic.

I have mixed feeling for this. Some things were good while some I didn’t like. But first let me tell you what was in the book and what I liked.

The book started with Kara visiting her ex-best friend, Charlotte, at Canadian prison stronghold for rogue mystic looking for closure after the tragedy too painful to bear. But Charlotte was drowned in rage, threatened Kara and vowed to exert vengeance by killing her and all her loved ones. After a year, Kara was living a normal non-magical life living her dream of famous painter. Life was peaceful and filled with love after she met a charming demon hunter- Selene. But when premeditated plan freed all rogue mystics and Charlotte along with them from Canadian prison, she found herself forced back to life of magic and Selene and her loved ones’ life was at stake.

What happened between charlotte and Kara all those years ago, why Charlotte wanted to destroy her, would Kara embrace her power and magic to save her loved one and world from the madness of Charlotte?

It was interesting to find answers. Book was third person narrative. Long chapters were broken by multiple POV and scenes alternating from Kara’s life at DC and Canadian Prison.

Kara’s life at DC told about her routine, her paints and how world and people inspired her, how she met Selene and how their relationship evolved. While John (Kara’s elder brother who was warden at prison) and narration by different characters at Canadian prison told about how prison worked, how they trained new enforcers (mystic police) and how prism stripping rouge mystics’ magic worked. This also narrated how the plan that freed prisoners was executed, by who and why.

I liked the introduction to characters. Kara was smart and developed character. She had her inner conflict due to loss and tragedy but on meeting Selene she saw the magic from her view and started to come out of the shell she formed around her. Selene was my most favorite character in the book. She was fiery, fierce and kick-ass demon hunter. She too had hard life and past but it was not revealed much in this book.

I loved bond and relationship between this two. This was my first book with F/F romance. I liked it and would love to read books featuring F/F relationship. This duo was fantastic in battle. I wouldn’t mess with them. Their getting-to-know-each-other conversations was not that extraordinary but it revealed more about their family, childhood and their past.

John was interesting character. I wish I could know him better. We get to know him and his friends Amelia, Rachel, and Marcus in pieces but not that much detail.

The world was filled with necromancers, magic wielders, demons, spells, and demon slayers. Magic was no secret, both paranormal and non-paranormal lived together. Action scenes were well written. I liked all of them and quite enjoyed them. I liked the turns in the story but I could see most of them quite early. I was just waiting for when and how. What I loved most was magic, and powers of characters, magical technology at prison and Kara and Charlotte’s back story.

Climax was filled with tension and action. End was also good. Despite some issues that needed improvement, I found myself wanting to know what happens next.

Why 3 Stars-

First, I don’t like unnecessary sentences and there were many here, like, “They finished their lunch with full stomach and collected their plates.” You get what I’m talking about. 2 or 3 sentences can be cut short to 1. It just dragged the story.

There are two kind of fantasy descriptive world and get to know the world as you read the story. Here we are just plunged into the story and figure the world yourself with surface information. It was not deep or described and because of that I kept questioning ‘Am I reading first book in series or second!’

Around 50% writing and plot got little better but then there came another issue. After the prison break, Selene was telling about her demon hunting adventure to Kara over dinner that she said happened ‘today’, but that scene actually happened and was described in detail before prison break. So I got confused here. All the events were titled under ‘present’ so the timeline was not aligning nicely and this chat and repeated adventure just confused me and kept me thinking what was happening when. It would have make sense, if the day or date were mentioned in the titled.

Concept was really good and promising, no doubt there, but I didn’t like the execution.

Overall, it was interesting, enjoyable and really promising urban fantasy but I had some issue that kept me from enjoying it completely.

*** Note: I received e-copy this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author. ***

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

DREAMS OF FIRE
DREAMS OF FIRE is the first book that I have read by Christian Cura, and I had a blast reading it. If you enjoy delving into a world of fantasy filled with mystics, the non-magical, demon hunters, evil hounds, and a bit of romance (Yes, please!), then this book is for you.

The ending screams sequel, and I, for one, can’t wait to read more!

Thank you to Christian Cura for providing me with an eBook of DREAMS OF FIRE in exchange for an honest review.

[Have Coffee Need Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good vs. Evil.
Witches, demon slayers, spells, family loyalty, love, heartache, rivalry, friendship, and betrayal are the core of Christian Cura’s Dreams of Fire plot. If you enjoy Lev Grossman’s Magicians or the tv adaptation of L.J. Smith’s Secret Circle, Dreams of Fire is something that could appeal to you.

Dedication to protecting non-mystics from magic-users with ill intent is what drives the Hartman Family. But the world of magic isn’t easily policed. The inciting incident of this story lies in temptation. All people can act in a good or evil fashion, or both at the same time. True good is the ability to make the difficult choice, a selfless act when confronted with the temptation to work outside of the mystic world rules.



Kara Hartman fell prey to the slippery slope of mischief run amok and fell into the clutches of lawlessness while studying magic at the prestigious Academy of Mystic Arts. The line she didn’t draw soon enough is now a death shroud marked by betrayal. She survived the unhappy end of a losing battle but with blood on her hands. Now the reluctant mystic is a scarred artist starting over in a more comfortable setting. But her escape is hindered by the mere fact that a blind eye isn’t a way out.

This novel is an excellent start to the series but is fraught with red ink mistakes.

World-building in Dream of Fire overreaches; great story structure creates layers for character development and plot advancement. The folds, overlapping, padding between the layers allows a story moments to breathe. It’s a place where the reader connects with the plot and characters, the opportunity for the reader to become part of what they are reading. Christian Cura’s magical world lies upon the surface of the narrative. The world is expansive rather than deep. Dreams of Fire takes time before the exposition evolves into something with features.

Compounding anchorless is too frequent POV and timeline shifts preventing the reader from exploring the plot. The intermittent cut-aways between Kara in DC and John in Canada stutters the progress of the narrative. Cura is trying to cover far too much surface information and not nearly enough meat. A little mystery goes farther than knowing the inner workings of far too many characters. Especially in an emerging story where a reader doesn’t have any established experience, I want to learn about a character and be intrigued organically. I don’t need the story dumps.

Rookie novels are written less for the reader and more for the writer--in that the process there is growth. While I went headfirst into red pen issues for Dreams of Fire, I firmly believe the concept is promising and appealing.

I am a big fan of the love story of Selene and Kara. It’s very lowkey and tentative, beautiful because it enforces an intimacy between the two women--but the dialogue lacks fire because it’s all exposition. I want to grow with a character. Kara and Selene’s interaction and relationship often read mechanical as if it is an outline. The backstory of Kara’s friendship with Charlotte is incredibly compelling. The flashbacks are stories being told to the reader by the characters. Cura fills the present timeline with bullet point topics. Only one of those two things is fun to read.

And I won’t lie here, Charlotte might have some pretty horrible habits and issues, but there is much personality to her that Kara sometimes lacks. I don’t think I’m supposed to be Team Charlotte.

BUT GO TEAM CHARLOTTE!

A drawback of the format is troublesome character POV drops.

The chapter/location/character introductions: the who, what, where, when are organized as “Character, Location, Timeline.�� It’s a perspective marker for the reader: character X’s part of the story at Y point in the narrative. Unfortunately, the MC of a scene occasionally has an out of body experience; for a brief moment, we are looking at this POV’s MC from the person with whom they are interacting.

I’m aware that there is a heavy hand of critique here. Despite the need for improvement, I enjoyed the plot and the direction of this book. I am eager to see where Saba’s story leads.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream of Fire is a contemporary urban fantasy novel featuring a bit of romance and a fight to win the battle of magic and evil beasts. Kara is a young painter who has moved to Washington DC to establish herself in the scene. Several past events have made her hesitant to use her powers even though her training has made her an adept user of the arts. Yet, an attack at a party forces her to expose her talents… and meet a demon-hunter in the process. This sparks a budding romance and a pull for Kara back to some memories she may have wanted to keep forgotten.

Another thread running through the novel is that of Saba, an underdog initiate at the Quershi Prison that doubles as a school for young magic users. She is there to join cause against the evil doers of the world. It is a good portrait of the “training school” as we are also given the POV of the teachers, directors, and other students.

Here are some overall thoughts about the book:

I liked the character of Kara and Cora hid her backstory well to frame her past against her current motivations.
While the premise and minor conflicts are dealt with well in the first half of the book, there’s no over-arcing problem that the characters are struggling for or against to sustain tension.
The setting descriptions were detailed (maybe too much at times), but the dialogue felt stilted at times… too much explanation between the characters. There are just more assumptions that people make when talking to each other.
The halfway point marks a drastic change in both storylines. The action picks up and the characters are tested… a war of magic and a battle of internal conflicts.
Despite some issues, there are many things about Dreams of Fire to enjoy. Pick it up for new urban fantasy read.

3.5 out of 5 stars.


For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story plays deeply on the idea of “trust your instincts.” So many lives could have been saved. Kara always knew something was wrong with Charlotte but was hoping any bit of goodness within her would randomly spark into redemption. There’s nothing wrong with looking for the good in others, but sometimes it just isn’t there.

As the story continues, a group of Enforcer recruits arrives at the mystic prison in Canada. Within that group is a person with her own agenda. The Enforcer instructors feel something is off. They report it to the Warden and continue to keep watch. Magic can be bad, but what is the end game?

When reading a book with magical and non-magical beings, it’s always interesting to see which way the author goes – are the non-magical beings aware of their counterparts? In this story, yes. It was fun to watch them interact and enjoy the various talents. Magic can be good.

On the flip side, revenge does become more creative. Magic can be evil.

I can happily say I love the way the author described many of the scenes in minute detail. I had no problem transporting from the prison in Canada to Kara’s studio in D.C. There was no pausing to regain my bearings. During the fight scenes, I usually just skim through because it’s challenging to follow along. However, in this story, I was able to view the scenes with intense clarity.

The book has ended, but the story hasn’t. I need to see what the rogues do. Are they just a menace? Or do they unite to create more damage? And then there’s the mysterious Enforcer. We learned of her plan, but there are so many unknown details. I have a feeling Selene will be heading back to New York City, where her past will probably catch up to her. She is an enigma. Then there’s Dani. She’s got a lot of unknown stories swirling around her.

[Nico Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot to like about Dreams of Fire. This action rich fantasy novel is full of magic, romance and tension. However, structural issues kept this novel from reaching its full potential.

Let’s start with the characters. Kara and Selena are the main protagonists that keep the action rolling. Their budding romance spices up the pages, and their growing loyalties toward each other feels organic as the danger heats up. I was cheering for these two from the moment they battled a demon together. They complimented each other and there’s no denying their emotional and physical chemistry.

But their dialogue, as well as the dialogue of many characters, felt stiff. It’s riddled with exposition which misses the opportunity for the reader to truly experience all the incredible flashbacks. We’re told the story, rather than being given the chance to dig deep and feel it. Which is a shame, because there’s a lot of imaginative plot points. I would have loved for the backstory to be presented out of dialogue, in a more “showing” delivery method.

The POV is a little chaotic. It jumps from person-to-person with quick bursts of exposition, never allowing the reader to really settle into the action. And while the fight scenes are quick-paced and engaging, there are several scenes in this story that could have been edited out of the story because they slowed the pace or simply added no value to the overall plot.

But at its heart, this is a creative story built around a world where magic is common place. The villain, Charlotte, added a delicious amount of menace, and I would have loved to see more of her on the pages. Overall, it’s a quick read that will entertain. It just needed one more round of edits.

I received a free copy from the author.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete page-turner; I could not put this book down! You follow this story from multiple perspectives, allowing you to grasp not only all parts of the tale Cura has woven but also to truly understand what it’s like to live in a world with Mystics. Dreams of Fire lacks the one-sided animosity that most urban fantasy sew into the baseline of their worlds and has instead created a fictional world that lives in a realistic harmony between Mystics and normals.
I hope to read more from Christian Cura in the future and CANNOT WAIT for the next book in this series to be released.

[anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kara is a painter. Anyone who meets her thinks she is just that. In reality, she has magic. She went to the renown Academy to train. Then something horrible happened, that turned her away from magic. She never even use it, until a party one day, when she tried to help a girl fighting demons. She did more bad than good, but it was a great meet-cute. :) It all seems well, but then the past comes back to haunt her.

I love magic in the book, especially the way it fits into the world created. I like the plotline of the book, and the way the story was told - multiple perspectives really worked for the story, creating tension. :) However, the writing style wasn't my favorite, I had a hard time getting into it.

received from Author

[Simrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very well written by the author. It has many twist and turn. I liked the idea of the book as I usually don't read this type of the epic tale. There were few chapters that were having a repetition of ideas. I liked the strongest character of the book Kara. This is a good read. I would like to give 4/5 stars.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreams of Fire by Christian Cura is a wonderful story that I have read. This is a wonderful stroy written by a brand new author for me to read and I can not wait to read what they write about next. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy, LGBT and paranormal romances.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Likely Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cura was able to create a creative and refreshing spin on the idea of individuals who have magical powers. I really enjoyed the story and found myself reading it in one sitting to see what happens next. For my full review click here: https://likelystory.blog/2020/09/02/r...

[Salla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full Review:
https://www.bookstoldmeso.com/2019/12...

The synopsis holds a promise for something epic, but in the end, it falls short of its promise.

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a somewhat emotional tale (for me) of one person giving up an integral part of who they are after tragedy. Kara, an artist in DC, is forced to expose her powers, which inadvertently puts her in the path of romance with a demon hunter and a war filled future. The author sets up this new world in detail. There were times that this attention to detail worked against the story. The author does a great job of developing the characters and keeping the story moving despite having a a dual subplot going on. While there was not one major plot that kept things tension filled, nor was there a lot of action, the war or battle went a long way in keeping my interest. I think this story will be a win for those who can appreciate the overall unintended message of acceptance. Accepting who you are and accepting love that doesn't come in the conventional package society says is "normal".

I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a different world of ours, Kara is a younger painter living in D.C, hiding a part of herself.
Right from the beginning, we see the main character fighting with her trauma and living insecurely. Throughout the story, the reader sees Kara's progress bit by bit, from the moment her life begins to change to the moment she overcomes her fear.
The concept of this world is very interesting, feels like a harry potter universe and in terms of characters, I think they were good characters and well developed.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

See my full review here:
https://bookycatbooks.wordpress.com/2...