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Fire Maidens: London
by
Anna Lowe
paranormal romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Twin Moon Press on October 14, 2019 and has 248 pages.
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Second in the Billionaires & Bodyguards paranormal romance series and revolving around Fire Maidens, who strengthen the magic of their cities. The couple focus is on Gemma Archer and Liam Bennett.
My Take
Issues. Issues. Issues. Subway is New York. The Underground, or Tube, uses carriages or cars. The series name? I have no idea how it relates to the story. I think it strayed over from somewhere and got lost.
And if you’re looking for an example of tell, Fire Maidens: London is it.
Everything we experience is through third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Gemma’s and Liam’s perspectives.
Ya gotta give Gemma credit for wanting to help make the world better, and it does play into Gemma’s final role. As for her kindly approach to the obviously mad Liam, I had to laugh. It’s too bad Lowe didn’t take advantage of any of this to create drama and tension. I must give Lowe credit for taking advantage of Gemma’s parents’ divorce to color how Gemma looks at marriage. Although, then again, she doesn’t really make use of it.
Lowe’s characterization of the various species of shapeshifters different approaches to love was a crack-up. And another instance of Lowe letting a opportunity for drama/tension go by.
Other than overweening pride, no pun intended, why was the maternal side of Liam’s family so anti his father? Bloodlines couldn’t have been the only reason for their nastiness.
Although, when you read of the Guardians’ “plans” for Gemma, you’ll be appalled by their arrogance.
With all the chat about those bracelets, I’m surprised Lowe didn’t actually go anywhere with this. As for Gemma’s dad constantly telling her how awful dragons are, why? Since both sides of Gemma’s family were all dragons?
It’s a lightweight story that is a too-easy read. There are a few exciting bits, and my favorite part is the end when Gemma steps up and stands Electra down, lol.
The Story
Fleeing a terrifying stalker in Boston, Gemma has joined her father in London, relieved (and hopeful) that she’s safe.
Liam Bennett had such hopes for helping to protect London until his eyes are opened by the Guardians’ ruthlessness . . . especially since he’s met and is already in love with their target.
The Characters
Gemma Archer (she has a degree in sociology, a minor in geography, and a slew of fencing awards) is enjoying her independence by house-, er, barge-sitting in Regent’s Canal on the Valhalla. Her father, Alastair, is a retired lawyer with a lifelong fascination with fantasy, who keeps his hand in with pro bono causes. Winston is Dad’s slobbery bulldog. Steven owns a map shop and is Gemma’s boss and her father’s friend.
Liam Bennett is a half-breed shifter who has recently retired from the Foreign Legion. His parents were a Welsh dragon and Elspeth, a lion of the Blackwood pride. Shifters. Members of his unit (and the protagonists in other series stories) include the very fashionable Sergio Monserratti, an Italian wolf shifter; Tristan Chevalier (Natalie is his Fire Maiden mate; Fire Maidens: Paris); and, Marco.
Liam’s mother’s family includes his cousin Brianna and the autocratic Aunt Lucinda (Electra is her aunt). Uncle Hendrick is dead. Jensen is the butler. Gareth, a raven-shifter, has cared for the Bennett family (and their castle in Wales) for decades.
The Guardians are . . .
. . . shifters whose headquarters in London is Lionsgate Hall where the Council of Elders meets. Lions are the dominant members and include the very imposing Electra Huxley, Augustus Llewis-Jones, Frederick Ainsworth, the egotistical yet weak Archibald, Daniel, and, Thomas. Rutland is a mercenary lion shifter. Fergus MacGregor leads the Scottish unicorns. Eamonn Barley, one of the last of the giant deer, is from Northern Ireland. Cian Talog is the leader of the Welsh dragons. Lady Miriam Burke-Smythe is the suggestion for personal secretary.
The Lombardis are a dragon clan which had been exiled from Europe decades ago. Their leader is Enzo with younger members including Lorenzo, Petro (Gemma’s Boston stalker), and Jacqueline.
Fire Maidens are ancestors? of Queen Liviana, a dragon. Wouldn’t that be descendants? Their bloodline protects the great cities of Europe. Their existence in the city alone reinforces the power of the ancient spells. Rhiannon was a Fire Maiden in the thirteenth century.
The Cover and Title
The cover is of blues and purples for a night sky and pink splotches with a partial moon in front of which a dragon is flying. A lit-up Big Ben is part of the background. In the foreground is a well-cut male torso with his hands in his jeans pockets, a line of his underwear showing above his paint-speckled belt. Starting mid-chest is the golden, fiery title gradating into a deeper pink. A gold crown tops the “R”. The author’s name incorporates that pink at the very bottom. Above her name is an info blurb in white. All the text is shadowed in black.
The title is prosaically informative, as the story is of Fire Maidens: London.
