Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Darkness Kindled (Fire Spirits #4) by Samantha Young



 Ari Johnson wishes adjusting to living with her boyfriend was her only source of excitement and anxiety.
She wishes a lot of things.
But then wishing was what got her here in the first place.

Ari chose to be a Guild Hunter. She wanted to hunt dangerous Jinn and destroy them before they could harm innocent people. But now that Ari is a member of The Guild, she finds herself in the impossible position of hunting her ex-best friend – human-turned-dangerous sorcerer, Charlie Creagh. As Ari struggles to come to terms with her duty, an ancient Jinn and his companion want revenge on her for using the command of the Seal against them; the White King refuses to give up on his quest to resurrect Lilif, and Asmodeus isn’t done toying with her.

When Ari can take no more, rushing to the Sultan Azazil’s side to demand of him the favor he owes her, the events she sets in motion will not only alter everyone’s lives, it will kindle a darkness that will shake the realms to their very core.


Samantha Young is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET.

She is a 27 year old Scottish book addict that graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2009. She studied ancient and medieval history at uni, and it was in her  first year there, in the middle of a classical literature lecture, that she first came up with the idea for The Tale of Lunarmorte. She’s  been writing since as long as she can remember, and she writes in a number of genres including romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, fantasy, and contemporary.
She loves pulling pieces of historical fact (or mythology) and twisting it to fit my stories, and she is more than thankful her degree is being put to good use in her writing. She began self-publishing in 2011 and now writes full time. 




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Fire Spirits Series (books 1-3)

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This is one of those reviews where I just don't know where to start. I have so many feelings. So much love for the author (who NEVER ceases to amaze me), for the fantastic characters I can't get enough of, for the crazy and fascinating Jinn world she's brilliantly created... Ah! Just. So. Much. I absolutely LOVE The Fires Spirits series, and with each book I declare the last to be my favorite. Darkness, Kindled is no exception to this unwritten rule. It enthralled, captivated and thrilled me to the bone.
But those aren't my only feels. While Sam sends you through whirlwind scene after scene, you can't help but reflect on the relationships built, broken down and literally annihilated throughout the series. From childhood friendships, fragile family foundations, and past lovers to hopes of rekindling, surviving and rebuilding those lost for many numbers of reasons, Sam puts us through an emotional wringer. WRINGER. Constantly hoping and praying everyone you've come to love makes it through, safe, healthy AND happy. Stuck on the edge of your seat. Holding on as if YOUR life depended on it. Gripping your kindle or iPad SO hard from anger or anxiety, certain the screen along with your heart will shatter at any moment. The intensity builds and builds... and builds. And just when you think you and your beloved characters can't take anymore, she gives you a small reprieve. A bit of fun, romance and light. And then... BAM! She slams you right back into the very real possibility of oblivion. Oh, she's an evil one she is. But she does indeed know how to keep you captive.
I have to share a favorite line from Jai. Without giving too much away, Jai responds to Ari's not confiding in Jai regarding a certain volatile event. To say he's pissed would be putting it mildly.
"Yeah, well, I'm scaring myself".
The line made me say, "HELL YEAH, JAI!", and also laugh out loud. So. Much. Passion. I love Jai so hard! He and Ari are the perfect couple. I swear. And to see them go through the pain, heartache, and out and out suffering they must endure in order to stop an apocalypse AND be together??? Holy mother of... my HEART!!!
And my stomach. Darkness, Kindled may have been the biggest roller coaster ride of the series. Just when you think the dust has settled and our sweethearts might finally get their HEA, Sam pulls the rug out from under you and hurls you into another epic battle. It's exciting, exhausting, and exhilarating.
Wait...what? Yes, exhilarating. Watching Ari grow into a powerful Jinn and a vibrant woman was so thrilling. Seeing her come into her own, to rise above her childish dreams and become an integral and absolutely necessary part of the Jinn world was so satisfying. To watch the love between Ari and Jai become an unstoppable entity all on its own. What a powerful and beautiful affair. And to see Jai overcome his past and accept himself as Ari and the rest of the world really see him was so amazing. All of these things made my heart soar.
I truly loved this story and though I wished some things could have ended differently, there really was no other way for Sam to stay true to the characters and keep us praying for the HEA we were ALL hoping for.
Is that to say I was disappointed in some way? Oh heck, NO. The build up to was brilliant and the ending, perfect. And in fact, I was thrilled by the extra material at the end of book. And left anticipating the possibility of revisiting this very magical world from an entirely new perspective. 




OH MAN!!! What an AMAZING book....in fact...WHAT A FANTASTIC series!! I have LOVED every moment...from the nail biting intense relationships to the gut-wrenching events that leave you physically aching.  This review is going to be difficult to write because this is book 4 in a series and I do not want to give away anything major, spoiling it for anyone who hasn't begun this enthralling series. So, I will go with what I can....Here goes....
Darkness Kindled brought back the mysterious enchanting world of the Jinn that we have gotten to know and love.  I was so excited and dove right in to find out what was going to happen to Ari and Jai, but most importantly, I wanted to know what was going to happen to Charlie.
I opened up the book and right off we begin not long after where events left off in Borrowed Ember. I was so curious as to what was going to happen to each of these fascinating characters.  I mean, each and every one that you encounter in this book, you have made an investment in to finding what lies ahead for them.  I had so many questions, and as I continued my reading, those answers were made available to me.  Events and decisions were made and all of the sudden life was turned UPSIDE DOWN!! 
I was sitting there thinking, agreeing with Ari's decision.  I mean, yeah, there will be some form of consequence to the decision made, but it can't be that bad, right??
OMG!!! I was so wrong.  Sam twisted and knotted the fabric of this world and it was then that I understood the reasoning for the title...Darkness Kindled.  And as I was getting closer to the end, I was holding my breath....worried that maybe someone wasn't going to make it, that relationships were ruined, that ultimately there wasn't a light at the end of this dark tunnel....

But, I can say, with surprises thrown in to the mix, events turned and I can say that by the end, I had a smile on my face.
Overall, Darkness Kindled was everything I wanted and more.  Experiencing the passion of Ari and jai's relationship kept me hot and bothered all the way through.  The chemistry between these two was electric, fierce, exciting, yet all the while showing the loyalty, compassion, and faith they have for one another.  I remember one scene in which Jai discovers a hidden truth that Ari didn't tell him about...In that moment, I was beside myself, completely in awe at the fiery explosiveness over the woman he loved.  I never doubted his emotions for her, but this scene blew me away!! It solidified everything about their relationship!! All I can say is....RAWR!!
Although we followed other fabulous characters like Trey, Charlie, Fallon, etc...all of their stories blended so well and as it came to the end, I don't think it could have ended any better...
Darkness Kindled is a story written by a truly brilliant writer.  When you enter one of Sam's worlds, they are forever tattooed on your heart.  They become a piece of you and Darkness Kindled, book four of the Fire Spirits series, allowed me to travel in to the mystical, magical world of the Jinn.  Introducing me to myths and legends like none I have heard before...Totally unique and beyond anything else I have ever read.
I hope you pick this series up...it is definitely one that you DO NOT want to MISS OUT on...!!!!! 

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