Heart on Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles Book 3)

I've loved this series from the very beginning so I was pretty nervous about picking up the final book in the trilogy, I wanted it to end on a high note but at the same time I didn't really want it to end at all! I'm very glad that I can say my first wish came true but I still think there is plenty of scope for more stories set in this world so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get my second wish too. I think Cat and Griffin's main story is done now but I wouldn't mind seeing them in the background while some of the other members of their group get a chance to shine - Carver, Flynn, Kato, Ianthe & Lycheron, a certain Titan we meet in this book, hell even Piers could have a story to tell! Anyway, enough of my hopes for the future, let's get back to discussing the book we've already been given shall we?

What can you expect from Heart on Fire? Cat has come a long way since the first book, she's started letting people into her heart and she's built a family around herself but she still doesn't quite trust herself or her powers. She's terrified of turning into her mother and that fear is stopping her from accessing her magic when she needs it the most. Everything Cat has already been through was nothing compared to what she must face here, now it's time to beat her inner demons and it's harder than she could have dreamed possible. I love how strong the relationship between Cat and Griffin is now and I love that they have such a strong support system around them with the Beta team, Griffin's family and even Cat's friends from her days in the circus. We've known all along that the Olympians have a vested interest in the couple's future but they've stayed pretty much in the background previously so it was nice to see a few familiar gods taking more major roles in this story.

I don't want to give anything away about the plot but you can expect shocking betrayals, surprise revelations, heart stopping action, plenty of heat between Cat and Griffin (although that was toned down slightly from the second book), strong bonds of friendship and the chance to catch up with all the characters we've fallen in love with throughout the series. This is one of the best fantasy romance series that I've come across in a long time and it's definitely one that has earned a spot on my favourites shelf. I can't wait to see what Amanda Bouchet comes up with next, whatever it is will definitely be an auto-buy but please, please, please at least give us some short stories or novellas in this world - I'm not ready to completely say goodbye to these characters yet!

SERIES: Kingmaker Chronicles #3

This review contains spoilers for the previous books in the trilogy.

Cat and Griffin are continuing their journey to take over Fisa and reunite all of Thalyria in peace. After defeating Galan Tarva they’ve also acquired a few more people like Cat’s sister Ianthe and a powerful but erratic fire mage, Bellanca Tarva. On top of everything, Cat now understands her purpose in life and what the Gods and Goddesses want from her and Griffin. Cat knows she must confront her Mother in their final battle but she’s spent her whole life trying to distance herself from the evil temptations her Mother inspires — or forces — in people.

There was plenty of action in this one but like the previous book, Breath of Fire, the Gods and Goddesses were often popping in in the nick of time to help Cat along. I would have preferred a bit less interference but I also understand that they need Cat to succeed in order to change Thalyria for the better. However, even with all their butting in, Cat still has a lot of work to really come to terms with her powers and her purpose. She does a lot of learning and growing in this book, especially because now she has an unborn daughter to think about. Although she figures it out, it took a long time and she's incredibly reckless with her life and others. After coming this far I would have expected more maturity out of Cat but it's just not there.

As usual, I liked Griffin and appreciated his support of Cat. His love and devotion never wavers and he’s truly the partner that Cat needs in this journey. Both Cat and Griffin do a lot to prop each other up when things get too tough. There are a lot of emotional and mental blows in this book that strive to set back this power couple and keep them from winning. It was clear from beginning to end that these two love each other and that love is as much their destiny as peace in Thalyria. However, they did get a bit insufferable a few times when they were soooo lovey dovey in the worst possible moments. On one hand, their love is epic and beautiful and on the other I wanted them to focus on the upcoming war.

For me, the biggest problem I had was with the last 20% of the book which seemed to drag on and on. I did not expect what was coming but it also took a long time to get through the battle and the scenes that follow it. Much of that part of the book involves Cat realizes some important things so we’re pretty much there for each little bit being discovered. However, it felt like it went on for too long for me. I’m also really upset about something that happens to a side character and I can’t really say I’ve come to terms with it. BIG spoiler: (view spoiler) That’s of course personal and nothing against the story, but I really wish it had been different.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Kingmaker Chronicles has been packed full of action and sensuality, and is one of my favorite series over the past year. This riveting conclusion is how I rang in the new year, and it was somewhat bittersweet to know that the series is ending so soon.

In Breath of Fire, we saw Catalia "Cat" Fisa, mature as a character and start to accept her fate as future queen of Thalyria. In Heart on Fire, Cat continues to realize what the gods intended by imbuing her with their power and setting her on the path to become a savior of Thalyria. I liked that Cat was continuously humbled by everyone's belief in her and support of her power bid. I also thought that the touch of vulnerability in Cat when it came to her relationship with Griffin helped humanize her, and soften the edges of our kickash heroine.

Griffin seemed to take more of a backseat in the conclusion. He is not the main character of the series, but he has fallen into more of a supportive and loving role for our heroine. I love that Griffin allows Cat to wield her own power, but that he doesn't let her cow him or run roughshod over the relationship. Griffin is also incredibly demanding in their intimate relationship and takes charge when its most exciting. Yum!

Our team's journey is culminating in the final and most dangerous fight of all - the one against Cat's sadistic and power-mad mother. Before Cat will be able to match and exceed her mother's power, she will have to accept and trust herself and stop feeling guilt over things in the past. Griffin was instrumental on Cat's journey to self-acceptance and I loved how supportive he was, yet knew when to push her when she was getting in her own way. I really enjoyed the appearance of all the various gods in this final installment, including the revelations of the roles that they played in Cat's life.

I somewhat felt like the ending was a bit rushed... however I think that is only because I am sad that the series is ending. I was trying to stretch things out in my mind and the end was just rushing at me. I do hope that Amanda Bouchet will continue the world in some way, perhaps in a spinoff. Cat's sister, Ianthe, is screaming for her own story to be told along side her new companion (who I will not mention to avoid spoilers).

If you are a fantasy romance fan, I definitely recommend that you pick up this series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca

What a great ending to Cat and Griffin’s story. I’ve loved everything leading up to and including this book. This is fantasy at its finest and Ms. Bouchet has set the bar high for other aspiring writers as well as those already established in the genre.

Once more filled with Gods and magic, creatures of the Gods and internal battles along with violent physical battles, Heart on Fire is action packed. I have struggled with Cat’s repeatedly not getting her magic right until she or those around her were almost dead, but I never realized that this was the true test. I appreciated the way this author brought us to this end.

The romance once more takes a back seat and yet the love Cat and Griffin have for each other and their family is the very core of the story. Cat is tested again and again throughout this series, but it is here that she faces her final life changing challenge.

There are no words to express the way this story spreads itself out and then wraps you up within itself. Absolutely loved it!

This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks.

What an unbelievably fantastic conclusion to the Kingmaker ChroniclesI Ms. Bouchet has woven a heartbreaking and uplighting story of unimaginable loss, grief and unshakable and abiding love. Her imagination is unparalleled for the trials she puts Cat through before Cat realizes what she needs to do to defeat her evil mother. I couldn't read the book fast enough to find out how this book would end. All I can say is wow! An awesome job from a very talented author. I can't wait to see what she'll publish next!

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

The third and final installment in the Kingmaker Chronicles, Heart on Fire shows us a more introspective Cat. Pregnant with she and Griffin's first child, living finally means more to Cat than conquering the world. She is starting to think before she leaps into danger and that second guessing has made her powers even more unreliable. She has got to figure things out before she goes to war with her mother or she and her new family don't stand a chance.
This series has been one of my favorite new romantic fantasy series and Griffin and Cat made my top 5 romantic couples of all time. I had mixed feelings about reading this last novel because I just didn't want their story to end. Even though Heart on Fire showed us a more emotional Cat and less of a kick but heroine, it fit. Cat has found her heart in Griffin, their baby, his family and her friends on the Beta team and she has a lot to lose in this final battle with her mother. Griffin's support remains steadfast and even though they have a few really difficult final challenges to overcome he always chooses Cat. Griffin is every woman's fantasy mate and he lives up to that title in Heart on Fire.
Even though I said I didn't want Cat and Griffin's story to end, I'll admit, I was a little impatient with all of Cat's introspection. I was used to the fast pace of the previous two novels, more action than introspection, so the change in pace took a little getting used to. However, once I adjusted I realized that I felt more connected to Cat than I had been. Truthfully, in the first two books Griffin was the character I was more enthralled with because he was such an Alpha male in love, which is really attractive.  I took note of Cat's emotions, but her thoughts and emotions were secondary. Heart on Fire made me have more empathy for Cat, giving the finale more impact.
If I ranked the three books Heart on Fire would fall at #3. It was my least favorite of the three but at the same time it was a great ending to the series. These characters needed to grow in the direction Amanda Bouchet wrote in order for their emotional arc's to be complete. Cat and Griffin went from two dimensional to bright 3D technicolor...right where they belong.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

The third entry in the Kingmaker Chronicles has Catlia aka the Great White Hope (sorry, I had to), has been crafted by the Gods (no really) to unite the three kingdoms into one Thalyria. With the unconditional love and support of Griffin, and the unending loyalty of her Beta team, she manages to survive trial upon trial to finally fulfill her destiny….or does she??? Ahem, well it’s a romance, so….yeah, romance happens.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good. This series has been building towards a confrontation between Cat and her mother, and there are some intense, huge scenes that really drive this train to the final destination. Sacrifices are made, lives are lost, and the final showdown was not what I expected, certainly more emotional than I expected, I think it all wraps up in a way that makes sense within the central theme of hope. The ways we hold onto it, the ways we can lose it, and….I couldn’t put it down as I tore through the last third of the book. I needed to see how it all wrapped up. Before I knew it, it was four o’clock in the morning and my sleep was screwed. I wept for the losses experienced (and definitely for one in particular), but it was worth it.

Cat and Griffin’s love gets stronger, grows deeper and is a true partnership. These two adore each other, and the romance, that thing that always brings me to the yard, was spectacular. Now, because this is a fantasy series, the way the Greek mythology is used continues to be strong and Ms. Bouchet expanded on this theme even more in this book. There’s a cinematic quality to the action scenes that made me long to see this on a big screen. Action is a tricky thing to pull off in a book, and I think Ms. Bouchet nailed it.

The (not really) Bad just different. The lulls between the big moments were slower than I would have liked. I would have liked a bit more of a wrap up, and the convenience of that final sacrifice that allows Cat fulfill her destiny? It’s done by the last person I expected, and I’m still not sure what I think about it. It’s sweet, almost fairy tale like and very hopeful, and perhaps I’m a bit too cynical. Nevertheless, it’s an ending that made

Everything in Between. This category I still consider good, but not the focal point of the story. The loose ends, of which there are many, makes me feel as if this isn’t the end, but only the beginning to several spinoffs from this series. And to be clear, I want more of the secondary characters in this tale. I want to know what happens to them, and there is clearly plenty of story to tell with them that can enrich this ‘verse even more.

The Bottom Line 4.25 stars
I really enjoyed the (apparent) finale of this series. When I, the loather of the cliffhanger, can read a series that takes three books to tell the full tale and it STILL leaves me wanting more? It’s a series I can heartily recommend. If you’re into fantasy romance, I would encourage you to check this out.

**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Book Three of the Kingmaker Chronicles
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: 2 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Who is Catalia Fisa?

With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.

Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother, and taking a final, terrifying step--reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.

What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger...we hope.

What I Liked:

Heart on Fire was not a fun ride for me. It wasn't all bad, but it definitely wasn't all good. I found myself more annoyed with the book than anything else, despite enjoying parts here and there. The book felt lackluster compared to the previous two books - in fact, I think it's safe to say that the series went straight downhill after book one. Book two was good but not as good as book one... book three lacked a lot of quality.

In this sequel novel, Cat and Griffin must defeat Cat's mother once and for all. But to do so, Cat must reach into her powers and control them, which she has yet to do. The kingdom of Thalyria is in her hands. If she can't find control, everything falls.

Things I liked... I enjoyed the romance. Griffin and Cat are a strong, solid pair, and this book proves that they are good for each other and good together. There are moments when Cat is afraid of how much the Gods interfered with their lives to direct their fates, but nothing ever comes between Griffin and Cat. I love how devoted they are to each other - it's absolutely not one-sided, not by far. Their trust and respect for each other really grows and strengthens in this book.

I adore Griffin, though he seemed to be a little one-dimensional in this book (i.e. only obsessed with Cat's safety and well-being). On the one hand, this is great theoretically... on the other hand, the man should have other priorities and interests. I love Griffin, with his strength, loyalty, and warrior/warlord overprotective, dominating nature, but I wish he had more to him besides being up Cat's a**. Boys today have hobbies like video games and sports. Griffin needs hobbies. I still love him. He's my favorite character of the series. But. One-dimensional.

The pacing of the story is good - I never got bored and I rolled right along to the end. I didn't necessarily like the story but I had no trouble getting through the book. So that's a plus! The author's writing has improved with each other. (I can't say the same about other things).

Cat is something I will talk about in the next section. I couldn't stand her. However, I will say that I'm glad she finally realized her potential and got over herself (girlfriend has been moping and wallowing for the entire series).

Hmmm, I thought there was more that I liked. I'll have to reconsider my rating. I didn't even really like the ending!

What I Did Not Like:

I could not staaaand Cat. I understand that the author was trying to portray her as feminist and strong and kickbutt and blah blah blah but Cat came across as very self-centered and self-involved in this book. Everything was about her, especially with the amount of wallowing and self-pitying she was doing. Throw in the fact that she is suuuuuper special on all fronts and we have a girl with a massive ego! Take it down a notch, sweetie! I don't like it when male protagonists have huge egos. I like it just as little when female protagonists have huge egos.

And on that note -- why is it that Cat has every single special power conceivable? She has the powers of the Gods, just because? How is it that she is so magical and powerful and a special snowflake? I didn't understand this - it seemed like a lot of deus ex machina. Cat had absolutely no flaws when it came to her abilities - abilities kept manifesting and manifesting and again, it seemed to be a lot of deus ex machina. I wasn't buying the whole "hard to kill" thing. I wasn't buying the "child of the Gods" thing. It seemed like a lot of luck and a free-for-all when it came to Cat claiming abilities left and right.

Back on the whole egoistical thing - please explain to me why Griffin was so wholly and utterly obsessed with Cat and only Cat. The man lived and breathed for her - I don't understand why? It was beyond obsession - I mean, he was literally created for her therefore he is her puppet? Like I said in the previous section, men tend to have hobbies... why is Griffin only focused on Cat? Isn't he the one conquering realms, leading his (royal) family, etc.? He seemed so one-dimensional because his priority was only Cat, and that to me is FAKE. Not sexy.

Seguing into my next complaint - WHY is Cat the queen of Thalyria and HOW is she such. I don't understand. She literally does N O T H I N G for Thalyria (other than face her mother three times in the book and hesitating every single time and letting her mother the evil witch escape every time). Everyone else fights for Thalyria, dies for Thalyria, goes to the ends of the earth for Thalyria, but Cat... Cat lets everyone do the work for her. Instead, she drags Griffin on some merry quest to find a magic potion that will magic help her control her powers... meanwhile her powers are utter crap and when they find the potion, it doesn't work (you'll see what I mean). Cat. Is. Useless. The author elevated Cat to Queen (and put her over Griffin even though he is King) because that's the ~feminist~ way to write fiction these days -- bulls**t. Cat has no experience being a royal and no business being a queen. She. Is. Useless.

Let me repeat: U S E L E S S.

The author has YET to address Kato's trauma from book two! Helloooo, the man went through rape and we don't see any kind of PTSD or lasting emotional or mental impacts? Did he just magically forget about the experience? There is no mention of it, and Kato pretty goes about his business as usual. This is TERRIBLE storytelling. You can't put a fairly "main" character through some serious trauma and NOT ADDRESS IT.

The ending was awful! It was one of those endings in which the war is over and la dee dah, the book is over! Everyone lives happily ever after! Never mind that they are uniting three realms, which is ALWAYS very peaceful and happy. Sure, Jan.

This book was a mess.

Would I Recommend It:

I actually do not recommend this book. I mean, don't leave the series hanging, if you've read books one and two. If you've only read book one, I would recommend stopping there. Book one is the best of the series. Book two is okay but not amazing. Book three is crap and a big mess. Of course, these are my opinions. I'm pretty upset that the series is concluding badly (for me), with this mess of a book. There was a distinct lack of quality, and I think that comes from a lack of experience and a desperate needs to force a "feminist" character with feminist themes into the book. Instead we have a Mary Sue that gets all the credit but does no work.

Rating:

2.5 stars -> rounded down to 2 stars. I tried! I really did. This series had so much potential. Now I'm glad I didn't preorder the book because I would have surely cancelled the preorder. I'm not sure I'll read anything by this author again - maybe? Maybe not.

Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles continues with another fascinating, imaginative fantasy. Greek mythology is expertly woven into this tale of struggle with horrendous beasts, gods and demi-gods and just plain evil humans. In contrast with the horrific situations is a group of people some related by blood, many not who built an amazing family and lead a people how desperately need their fairness and strength.

Cat finally comes into her destiny with her full powers as she goes into the biggest fight of her life against her own mother. Griffin remains the most amazing supportive man who also happens to be a big ole alpha in his own right! Swoon.

I was on the verge of being tired of Cat's wishy-washy inability to accept her fate and take charge of her powers when she finally saw the light and embraced it.

This book is filled with fights that seem insurmountable, surprising explanations of previous events, godly intervention and love. Lots of love.

This entire series has had me hooked and Heart of Fire was a satisfying, gripping conclusion.

Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Paranormal Romance -Jan. 2nd, 2018
4 stars

As the third in the author magical Kingmaker Chronicles, the action and romance continues.

Cat and her husband Griffin want peace and prosperity with a united land. So far they have conquered two kingdoms and now there is only one left, Fisa. But to do so means Cat must get over the fear of her terrible and malicious mother, the queen of Fisa. Her mother tormented her and killed her beloved sister. Plus her mother’s power are formidable and Cat has never been able to completely best her. In addition, Cat’s pregnancy and lack of confidence seem to have affected her ability to use her powers. Cat must journey to her heart and find the courage and confidence to take on her mother but what if she can’t in time?

This book was bitter sweet. Cat and her wonderful cast of characters are a fun and engaging read. The author’s humor and imagination shine throughout the book. Cat is fiery and entertaining when she isn’t having self doubts. Griffin is the perfect hero and I loved how the author delves more into his thoughts and feelings. It was also great to read about the rest of the Beta team and their relatives. However, the book seems to have fits and starts where Cat is all powerful then almost completely impotent. Her main quest is to master her powers which have seemed to disappear. Most of the story involves Cat realizing she has a mental block that prevent her from accessing her powers. There also a couple shocking areas that do not seem to conclude. And main characters that seem to be floundering with unresolved issues. Which made me wonder if there would be a spin off or more trials for Cat and Griffin in the future. Because of this, the book while ending on triumphant note felt abrupt and unfinished and I ultimately felt left hanging for more. But overall, a welcome return to Cat’s amazing adventures just not my favorite in the series.

Fantastic world building and beloved characters make this book a hit.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Heart of Fire was an electrifying ending to a series that was beautifully brutal in every way.

In A Promise of Fire, readers were first introduced to the world of Magoi's, a magical race from the north that descend from the Gods, and the Hoi Polloi, a mundane southern race looked down upon because of their lack of magic. Where we met Catalia Fisa, the Kingmaker, and her match in every way, Griffin Sinta. Mysteries abounded, tension sizzled, tempers flared, trust took it's first tentative steps, and a romance bloomed. In Breathe of Fire though, that same trust and love was shattered and rebuilt, friend's were lost, and new beginnings made. Now, in Heart on Fire, Cat and Griffin must unite all of the kingdoms in Thalyria, including Cat's childhood home of Fisa, in order to complete Griffin's vision of reuniting the three realms and fulfilling the God's ultimate plans. Which means confronting Cat's own mother, who is as terrifying as she is powerful, and her own painful past.

Amanda Bouchet, who debuted with this series, excels at weaving a compelling world of magic and myth. The vivid world-building, heart-pounding action, memorable humor, and fervent romance has had me enchanted from the start. Mythology lovers can rejoice with this final installment. Not only do we find out that some of Cat's friends are more then what they seemed, but several more God's, Titan's, and Goddesses grace the pages of Heart of Fire too. Epic quests will ensue and prophecies will be fulfilled. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, just waiting to see what would be thrown Cat and Griffin's way next! The chemistry and passion between Cat and Griffin was intense as ever. The love that they share is beyond sigh-worthy. I am desperately hoping for a spin-off from this series that feature Griffin's family and Alpha/Beta Team. The dynamics between this group of characters was as lively as always, especially with the addition of a new fiery member. The loss of one or two key members, shakes their foundation, but with the support of each of these charismatic characters, there is never any fear of it crumbling.

What I found to be disappointing in this final installment (which is why I am rating this a 4, instead of a 5) was Cat herself. In the first two books she was a bad-ass, take-no-shit, independent woman with an ever-developing soft side when it came to those she loved. In Heart on Fire though, Cat seemed to loose all of those strong, endearing qualities that I enjoyed so much. At times, I couldn't even fathom her thought process and decisions. There were many instances where she would be on the verge of giving up completing and needed rallying from outside sources. This didn't jive with the Cat I've come to know. I could see her character softening up a little, that would have fallen in as part of her natural growth, but this seemed like a whole new character at times and disturbed the flow of the book and series ARC.

That discrepancy notwithstanding, I still found Heart on Fire to be a captivating, satisfying, unforgettable story. I'll be keeping my eyes out for news on more stories from this world in the future! If you're a fantasy and romance lover, the Kingmaker Chronicles is a series not to be missed. You'll definitely want to start at the beginning, as this is not a series that you can jump into mid-way, but it will be well worth it!

*COPY COURTESY OF PUBLISHER

He captured her and then captured her untamed heart. Magic and non-magic combine to fight and win against all odds, but there is still one last hurdle. She must defeat her powerful, wicked mother. Cat doubts, but Griffin and all the others see her as their hope. It's time for her to come into her own.

Heart on Fire is the third and final installment in the Kingmaker Chronicles. It is the third part of a story and must be read in order.

I'm going to pause here to say that anyone who hasn't started the series yet, but are considering it for a future read should probably not read any further. That first book and the second have some amazing twists that I don't want to spoil for anyone.

So, Cat and Griffin have just come through alive after the games and hold yet another piece of the puzzle on their quest to unite the three lands together and end Alpha Fisa's tyranny. Cat has discovered that caring a child has taught her as little else can not to be so impulsive and to take help. But her fears and guilt weigh her down. A heartbreaking betrayal casts piercing pain and gloom upon everyone and a decision that seems sound almost gets her and Griffin killed.

Cat is being tried by fire and though there are action scenes in this one and whew, was there also some passion though not too much like last book, there are also plenty of introspective and internal battles she must face to emerge as the Queen of Thalesia beside Griffin as ruler of a united land. It was tough reading much of the time for me because she is in a cycle of fear, anger, doubt, confusion, and recrimination. The gods play a bigger role in this one and I felt, like in book two, that it takes away from the story to have them swoop in and join some pretty tense scenes. I was particularly disappointed because they edge Griffin out of the picture to mere bystander much of the time unlike that magnificent warrior who captured Cat's heart, a kingdom, and fought off all enemies beside her.

The climax scene had me riveted, but I confess that I've got mixed feelings about how this one ended. I can't say more without giving up the goods. I'm not sure if I'm right, but there was also room for more if the author wants to take a few side trails of stories off this one. Now, all that being said, the main story arc of the series does come to a satisfying conclusion with Cat and Griffin.

So, all in all, this was a good, engaging read and I'm glad to have read it. It's sad to see the end of the Kingmaker Chronicles. That first book will still be one of my best reads of the year it was released. Fantasy Romance lovers who love fiery heroines, strong worldbuilding and lots of action and suspense in a fantasy setting should give these a go.

Everything in this series has been leading up to these moments and they are finally here. In Heart on Fire, Catalia and Griffin have cemented themselves as rulers of Tarva and are making plans to integrate both Sinta and Tarva with the goal of eventually uniting Thalyria, but in order for that to happen Cat was going to have to confront her worst fear, her mother. Before she was even ready for it, she got her first glimpse of just how difficult the task of defeating her mother was going to be. Griffin also finally saw Cat’s mother up close and personal and realized that he had absolutely underestimated how powerful she truly was. It was going to be the toughest fight they had ever taken on.

It became clear to Cat that before she could even consider effectively battling her mother, she would need to battle her own demons of self-doubt. There were several bombshells that were dropped in this story and with every revelation Cat could feel her insecurities growing. The scope of her destiny was almost more than she could handle but with Griffin by her side, encouraging her and supporting her, she grew into her powers and expectations. Griffin grounded her in every way and wow, there were so many powerful scenes in this story that everything around me faded until all there was Cat and Griffin.

Cat and Griffin have always had an intensity about them and throughout this book their love and commitment to each other grew to a deeper understanding of who they were and what they were together. Griffin is just amazing in every book but in this one he was just so everything! I think that everyone in the world deserves their very own personal Griffin. The intensity that he loves Cat with was nothing short of inspiring! Even with the reveals that occurred during this story, reveals that would make any man possibly doubt his feelings, he stayed steadfast in his devotion. Swoon! Swoon! Swoon! Author Amanda Bouchet knows how to write romance!

If I had to sum up this story I would have to say elpis, which means hope! Hope, is what Catalia comes to embody, hope is what united people from all walks of life. Hope for a new tomorrow and Cat was elpis personified. That was a lot for her to take in and it was a battle for both her and Griffin to determine what choices they truly had versus what their destiny was meant to be. Heart on Fire is a story filled with heartache, betrayal, meddling gods, epic battles, self-sacrifice, love, and above all else – hope. I experienced many emotional highs and lows while reading this book and it was amazing.

The ending was the only thing that kept this story from being a five star for me and I do feel conflicted about that but it is what it is. Heart on Fire is the third and final book in the Kingmaker Chronicles series and it has been a memorable experience. I have enjoyed this series from book one and wowza it had an amazing overarching plot that was carried through this series and was nothing short of brilliant, so good! This is also a series that must be read in order, otherwise you will lose out on the overarching plot which makes this series as spectacular as it is. Overall, Heart on Fire is a romance fantasy that I highly recommend!

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.

This was the conclusion to a great fantasy romance with Greek mythology influences.

Book 3 picks up right after Cat, Griffin and the Beta team win the Agon Games and they take over Tarva. They are almost at their goal of reuniting Thalyria and becoming the Alpha couple. All that is left is to defeat Fisa which means defeating Cat's mother.

What really stands out in this book is the heroine Catalia. This is totally her show. She is definitely the the alpha female. The power she yields is like none ever seen. Now don't get me wrong Griffin is an alpha in his own right but this book was all about Cat and he definitely took a back seat.

I loved all the action in this book. I definitely feel like I have closure as a lot of questions are answered. The one critique I have is that there was not much romance in this book. I would have wanted to feel more intimacy and more of a connection between Cat and Griffin. I don't know, it just felt like I needed more. The story really focuses on Cat learning to use and understand her power to defeat her mother. So I felt like her relationship with Griffin was not really the focus which is fine I guess.

I LOVED the secondary characters in this book! I am so smitten with the Ipotane alpha, Lycheron. His strength and virility was so potent. Gah! Now he needs his own book! I also loved Bellanca, the ex-Tarvan princess. Talk about having some spunk.

If you are looking for a fantasy book with a strong heroine then you will love this book.

4 Stars
Fantasy Romance
Series: Book 3 of 3 (Must be read in order)
Heat Level: Light
HEA

(www.NightOwlRomance.com) Amanda Bouchet brings The King Maker Chronicles to its conclusion in "Heart of Fire". It all started in "A Promise of Fire" and ramped up in "Breath of Fire". It has been a vivid and compelling journey following Cat from hidden fortuneteller to queen. Talk about epic battles and adventures. You get it all in this series. In "Heart on Fire" you get more of the epic battles than the adventure. I wanted more adventure as that's part of these fantasy books that I crave. Still, I enjoyed this book and all the family dynamics. Plus all the love that shown through between Cat and Griffin. Now that was EPIC! Readers just finding out about this series must get book one before proceeding to book two and three. That's a must, not an if you feel like it. This book has no context without reading the first two in order. So rush over now and get started on "A Promise of Fire".

In this third book we get Cat and her mother's contemptuous relationship wrapped up. Long live the queen...our queen Cat. Plus we get a glimpse at what the future has in store for her and Griffin.

I enjoyed seeing Cat and Griffin succeed in their dreams and lives. I did wish for more adventurous travels across the exotic lands. But most of all I'm looking forward to seeing what Amanda Bouchet has planned for her next book or series. I know it's going to be epic.

Review by: Tthe store
NOR voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy.

This book suffers from a lot of flaws. Firstly, a year has passed since the last book, and while it was memorable, it wasn’t that memorable. Secondly, the plot was lacking. Which brings me to my third point, this book fell short. I know the author has potential, but it took a year for this? Really?

I really enjoyed this series, but Heart of Fire is probably my least favorite out of the three books. I was expecting to see some powerful scenes involving the Beta Team, but the majority of the book was about Cat's insecurities. Then add all the declarations of love by Griffin... to the point where it just didn't seem fitting.

I was more excited to read about the other characters: Carver, Bellanca, and Ianthe. Hopefully they all get their own books soon!

Although I think this book didn't tie everything nicely, the overall series is solid. Amanda Bouchet does a wonderful job creating a world full of heroes and monsters.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHEW. That was a heck of a ride. From the moment I read Chapter 1 of the first book in this series, I've been on the edge of my seat. That's not the easiest thing to do in a romance series (seeing as there's a sort of HEA contract between the author and readers, given the genre). And I'm even more impressed that Amanda Bouchet has managed to raise the stakes, ratchet up the tension and deliver the goods without introducing elements of unnecessary and annoying drama. WHO KNEW that characters could be in a relatively stable and loving relationship and still be interesting? Very refreshing to see in a series.

This is the third in the Kingmaker Chronicles, and I've seen it marketed as the 'finale'. It may be the final book in this branch of the series, but there are hints that there's more to be built in this world. Which brings me to the only thing I didn't like, and unfortunately it's a big thing...the final third of the book felt MAJORLY rushed. Major events happened so fast they were practically piling up on each other, and then suddenly the book was over with a number of things left unresolved. Which is the strongest hint yet that there's more to come - there's so much left to discover, and I hope we get the chance.

Excellent world-building and nice characterization throughout. I'll be watching for more from this author, be it with these characters or new series entirely.

I was really looking forward to this book. I liked the first two books in the series very much. This one did not meet my expectations. It was slow and the pacing was off. The book starts off in an exciting way but then slows down considerably and doesn't really seem to pick the pace back up. And at times it feels repetitive. The heroine spent a lot time wallowing in self-pity and that seemed out of character for her and was frustrating/annoying to read. There were scenes that I did really like which is why I'm rating this a 3 and not a 2.

Discovering the Kingmaker Chronicles was kinda like running into a unicorn. You're not expecting it, pretty sure it didn't exist, and it basically fulfills all your wishes in one go. It was a sexy fantasy story that takes place in a made-up world with our own Greek myths, infused with magic, a reluctant snarky heroine, and a total alpha hottie. With a band of merry men, a family focused group of secondary characters, a Big Bad for a nemesis in the shape of one's mother, a foundation of heartbreak for a backstory that nonetheless finds balance in hope and faith in others, and a more adult set of Percy Jackson-like deities, I enjoyed the first installment immensely and book two only got bigger and better.

HEART ON FIRE, however, kind of broke the streak. While the story started out really well (even though it forced me to dive into my library to reread the last few chapters) it quickly spiraled into repeat conversations, endless discussions about.. well, I hate to be mean, but feelings that often crossed the line from charming to cheese, all to kill time until Cat mastered her powers. And to be honest it went a little too far and dragged itself out a little too long only to wrap up the end in a rather perfunctory manner.

For me the best parts of book three were the moments outside the never-ending build-up to the showdown and the constant revisiting of how much Cat and Griffin are the air the other breathes (of which there is many). My favourite parts were the quiet emotional connections between Cat and her friends, her sister, even her brother in law. There was a very strong resonance in Bouchet's writing and woven into the fantasy are a lot of issues -- abuse, grief, loss, depression -- and I thought they were handled so well.

The author's style of being in Cat's head but also knowing things about others, or making leaps that are then determined to be true, takes a little getting used to and I think it only kind of bogged me down this time because I wasn't enjoying the plot as much. There's a lot of convenient and kind of over the top reveals in this finale and while I guess that should come as no surprise when you're dealing with fantasy and all powerful immortals, I was a little eyeroll-y over it. But particularly in relation to the ending which, also, was a disappointment because of the convenience.

I wish I had more positives to say about HEART OF FIRE but I just didn't love it the way I loved the first two books. However I'm very fond of the world, my experiences with the previous installments were great, and there were a lot of characters I'm sad to say goodbye to (some more permanently than others, whoops, spoilers). At the heart of the story is a great romance but I wish we'd had more time to see Cat and Griffin's devotion to each other instead of having to swim through all the dialogue of expressing it, if that makes sense.

The final book in the Kingmaker Chronicles is fun, has moving passages of believing in yourself, followed by steamy sexy times, and a ton of heart. I will definitely read more from this author (already have her next book on my tbr and it's not out until 2019 and there's not even a synopsis, haha) and despite the aforementioned disappointments, I would not turn anyone away from trying this series.

I loved the Heart on Fire, Amanda Bouchet’s culmination of her terrific trilogy. I found the mythology thrilling, the action riveting, and the hope in the novel soul-searing. Most of all, the trajectory of Cat and Griffin’s relationship rocked me in the best possibly way. They knocked my socks off and their scenes contained both sizzle and beauty. Aside: Ms Bouchet’s secondary characters are terrific. So now I’m begging her to please write some books with them! Fast!

I did not finish this book. The main character, Cat becomes super annoying, needy and thankless. I loved the first book but the second and third were just horrible. Cat is not a likable character by this book so it was really hard for me to keep reading. She becomes so annoying and less strong than what she was in the first book that I did not bother finishing this book. I don't understand why authors portray female main characters as needy, annoying and always making poor decisions and expect women to love the book. Just stop.

I really enjoyed this series, but Heart of Fire is probably my least favorite out of the three books. I was expecting to see some powerful scenes involving the Beta Team, but the majority of the book was about Cat's insecurities. Then add all the declarations of love by Griffin... to the point where it just didn't seem fitting.

I was more excited to read about the other characters: Carver, Bellanca, and Ianthe. Hopefully they all get their own books soon!

Although I think this book didn't tie everything nicely, the overall series is solid. Amanda Bouchet does a wonderful job creating a world full of heroes and monsters.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHEW. That was a heck of a ride. From the moment I read Chapter 1 of the first book in this series, I've been on the edge of my seat. That's not the easiest thing to do in a romance series (seeing as there's a sort of HEA contract between the author and readers, given the genre). And I'm even more impressed that Amanda Bouchet has managed to raise the stakes, ratchet up the tension and deliver the goods without introducing elements of unnecessary and annoying drama. WHO KNEW that characters could be in a relatively stable and loving relationship and still be interesting? Very refreshing to see in a series.

This is the third in the Kingmaker Chronicles, and I've seen it marketed as the 'finale'. It may be the final book in this branch of the series, but there are hints that there's more to be built in this world. Which brings me to the only thing I didn't like, and unfortunately it's a big thing...the final third of the book felt MAJORLY rushed. Major events happened so fast they were practically piling up on each other, and then suddenly the book was over with a number of things left unresolved. Which is the strongest hint yet that there's more to come - there's so much left to discover, and I hope we get the chance.

Excellent world-building and nice characterization throughout. I'll be watching for more from this author, be it with these characters or new series entirely.

I was really looking forward to this book. I liked the first two books in the series very much. This one did not meet my expectations. It was slow and the pacing was off. The book starts off in an exciting way but then slows down considerably and doesn't really seem to pick the pace back up. And at times it feels repetitive. The heroine spent a lot time wallowing in self-pity and that seemed out of character for her and was frustrating/annoying to read. There were scenes that I did really like which is why I'm rating this a 3 and not a 2.

Discovering the Kingmaker Chronicles was kinda like running into a unicorn. You're not expecting it, pretty sure it didn't exist, and it basically fulfills all your wishes in one go. It was a sexy fantasy story that takes place in a made-up world with our own Greek myths, infused with magic, a reluctant snarky heroine, and a total alpha hottie. With a band of merry men, a family focused group of secondary characters, a Big Bad for a nemesis in the shape of one's mother, a foundation of heartbreak for a backstory that nonetheless finds balance in hope and faith in others, and a more adult set of Percy Jackson-like deities, I enjoyed the first installment immensely and book two only got bigger and better.

HEART ON FIRE, however, kind of broke the streak. While the story started out really well (even though it forced me to dive into my library to reread the last few chapters) it quickly spiraled into repeat conversations, endless discussions about.. well, I hate to be mean, but feelings that often crossed the line from charming to cheese, all to kill time until Cat mastered her powers. And to be honest it went a little too far and dragged itself out a little too long only to wrap up the end in a rather perfunctory manner.

For me the best parts of book three were the moments outside the never-ending build-up to the showdown and the constant revisiting of how much Cat and Griffin are the air the other breathes (of which there is many). My favourite parts were the quiet emotional connections between Cat and her friends, her sister, even her brother in law. There was a very strong resonance in Bouchet's writing and woven into the fantasy are a lot of issues -- abuse, grief, loss, depression -- and I thought they were handled so well.

The author's style of being in Cat's head but also knowing things about others, or making leaps that are then determined to be true, takes a little getting used to and I think it only kind of bogged me down this time because I wasn't enjoying the plot as much. There's a lot of convenient and kind of over the top reveals in this finale and while I guess that should come as no surprise when you're dealing with fantasy and all powerful immortals, I was a little eyeroll-y over it. But particularly in relation to the ending which, also, was a disappointment because of the convenience.

I wish I had more positives to say about HEART OF FIRE but I just didn't love it the way I loved the first two books. However I'm very fond of the world, my experiences with the previous installments were great, and there were a lot of characters I'm sad to say goodbye to (some more permanently than others, whoops, spoilers). At the heart of the story is a great romance but I wish we'd had more time to see Cat and Griffin's devotion to each other instead of having to swim through all the dialogue of expressing it, if that makes sense.

The final book in the Kingmaker Chronicles is fun, has moving passages of believing in yourself, followed by steamy sexy times, and a ton of heart. I will definitely read more from this author (already have her next book on my tbr and it's not out until 2019 and there's not even a synopsis, haha) and despite the aforementioned disappointments, I would not turn anyone away from trying this series.

I loved the Heart on Fire, Amanda Bouchet’s culmination of her terrific trilogy. I found the mythology thrilling, the action riveting, and the hope in the novel soul-searing. Most of all, the trajectory of Cat and Griffin’s relationship rocked me in the best possibly way. They knocked my socks off and their scenes contained both sizzle and beauty. Aside: Ms Bouchet’s secondary characters are terrific. So now I’m begging her to please write some books with them! Fast!

I did not finish this book. The main character, Cat becomes super annoying, needy and thankless. I loved the first book but the second and third were just horrible. Cat is not a likable character by this book so it was really hard for me to keep reading. She becomes so annoying and less strong than what she was in the first book that I did not bother finishing this book. I don't understand why authors portray female main characters as needy, annoying and always making poor decisions and expect women to love the book. Just stop.

I loved the first two books immensely and had big expectations for Heart on Fire. Amanda Bouchet delivered a great read once again. The story line carried easily from the Breath of Fire with added characters, love, loss and sacrifice. There’s just enough magic and Olympian Gods tied with character passion to keep the pages turning as fast as I could read. I’ll be patiently waiting for the follow up books that tell stories of all the remaining characters.

This was the last book of the Kingmaker Chronicles. I loved the first two books. Not so much with “Heart on Fire.”

The action didn’t start until well after 100 pages. Unfortunately, the book was largely centered on the main character trying to come to grips with her fear and her past. It was trite.

One bright spot is that the book’s title reminding me of the band Earth Wind and Fire’s song, “That’s the Way of the World.” I recommend that song more than I recommend this book.

I found this series through my local library while in between books. The description sounded interesting, so I checked it out and got to reading.

The first book was enjoyable and had potential to make for a good story. The main characters were somewhat interesting and I was looking forward to learning more about some of the secondary characters since it seemed the author has/had plans to bring them more into the storyline or perhaps create some offshoot books centered on them.

I had to slough through the rest of the series. By the third book, I was ready for it to just end already. It felt as though the author signed up for a trilogy, but then realized that when it came time to write the third book, she was out of ideas.

Pages and pages were dedicated to Cat (the heroine of the story) and her inner monologue of self-doubt and guilt. It was so repetitive that I found myself skipping paragraphs just to get on with it. There was just way too much talking and not enough “showing”. The same can be said for the gooey, sappy romance between Cat and her one and only, Griffin. They constantly professed their undying love for each other. There were some beautiful moments and lovely, poetic words exchanged, but it all just got to be too much.

When it came time for the big showdown between Cat and her mother, the last ruler standing in the way of uniting three unstable kingdoms into a united land and people, the author wrapped it up in about 5 pages. There was no fighting, everyone surrendered peacefully, and the mother gave up without a fight, suddenly seeing the error of her ways. She had captured a few a Cat’s close friends and made some attempt at making Cat choose between them or something, but overall there was no purpose to it. The ending reminded me of a sitcom ending when everyone comes together and has a laugh, shares some love, and then the scene fades out. Very disappointing.

There was a lot of potential to the overall story, but unfortunately, the author didn’t pull it off.

The third and final book in Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles, HEART ON FIRE, comes out today. (January 2, 2018) Since it’s the series finale, it’s virtually impossible to write this review without spoilers for the previous books, but I am going to try my very darndest. To that end, I have composed a list of five things I think readers should know about HEART ON FIRE. Here goes.

The Women (and there are many) are Badass

If you put a book up to the Bechdel test, this would pass with flying colors. In addition to Selena (her healer friend from the circus) and Griffin’s sisters, Cat added another two women to her family in the second book, BREATH OF FIRE. Bellanca, a princess in her own right, is a fire mage and pretty much my favorite character in the series. She’s prickly and intense, never hesitating to call out her companions for their nonsense. She’s also a source of comic relief at times, often batting at her flaming hair or “accidentally” hitting Carver. Ianthe, Cat’s sister, is a water mage and possesses the same sort of compassionate strength that makes Cat so heroic. (She gets a bit of her own HEA and I would like their book now please and thank you.)

Then there’s Cat. She’s a bit of a Mary Sue, designed to be such, but also… not? In all three books, Cat messes up with surprising frequency. The number of times she nearly dies or is bleeding, broken, or otherwise impaired is impressive. Bouchet really puts her through it. As with the other novels in the series, this book is about Cat finding her strength. Not strength despite adversity, but because of it. In this novel, Bouchet gives us women to admire, to emulate, to want to be friends with.

Bouchet Amped Up the Godsauce

“Suzanne, what is godsauce? It sounds dirty.” Godsauce is my way of saying “crazysauce but with Greek gods.” Bouchet packed this book full, moreso than the previous two, of gods, goddesses, and mythical figures and places. I can’t give you too many details without spoiling the book, but let’s say you could draw a chart that shows godsauce and romance over time. As the series progresses, godsauce rises and romance decreases.

You May Miss the Romance

Which brings me to my next point - the romance is probably lacking if that’s what you’re after. While I appreciate that Bouchet shows Cat having a physical relationship with her husband and fighting her ass off while pregnant, there’s no denying that this is more of an epic fantasy novel and less of a fantasy romance. Cat and Griffin’s relationship was thoroughly solid early into Book 2, and I think I would have resented it if Bouchet continued to make them doubt each other. Their love and the strength they both take from that love is still a driving force, however. (And Bouchet gives us a couple of secondary romances as well!)

It’s Relentlessly Hopeful

If you ever need to read a story about strength and triumph over adversity, here’s a book for you. Cat’s put through just about every possible emotional and physical challenge and, through it, finds a path forward that works for her. It doesn’t have to make sense to the rest of the characters, but it’s the only way she can maintain her core values and also save Thalyria. Hope is such a strong characteristic of this book that I would have no problem describing it with just that single word. For example, this line:

“Compassion and ruthlessness have always danced around each other inside me like wary partners, but I know the music they spin to, and I’d rather have a heart to break than no heart at all.”

Matt Swore About the Ending (But I Didn’t)

Originally, Matt and I were going to do a joint review for this book, both of us offering our thoughts. However, he read the book start to finish as soon as he got his hands on it (months ago) and I chose to put it off and savor the last book in this brilliant series. The end result is that I’m writing this review with just my opinions, with one caveat - the ending. Matt wanted the ending to go a different way, cursing a bit about it. I had the opposite reaction. I was wondering how Bouchet could possibly reconcile the inevitable defeat of Cat’s mother (the Big Bad) with the recurring motifs of hope and goodness. I was quite happy with the way things turned out.

(Full review also at Love in Panels dot com)

My least favorite of the series but still enjoyable. I love the mix of Gods and fantasy but the high point was at the start when the Gods were interacting and calling each other out in front of Cat and Griffin. Cat seemed to be on a very individual journey in this installment, like her belief in herself and her powers mattered above everything else. It's also amazing with as much going on in their world Griffin and Cat still find the time to hook up as much as they do.

Fantastic world building from Amanda Bouchet. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Though book one was my favourite, Heart on Fire has the same impact, pace and intrigue. I love the relationship between Cat and Griffin, that the chemistry is still sizzling between the two.
There were times when I felt that the questions surrounding Cat's abilities were a little repetitive, but not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the authors world and words.
A brilliant series.

What a disappointment! Bouchet has built such an interesting, fleshed-out world. I had been looking forward to this book for a year, re-reading the first two books, especially book 1, regularly. This book was such a let-down. Cat spent most of the book spinning around in her head with the same, insecure thoughts. As the last book in the trilogy, she needed to show some development and growth, but we really didn't see that. The ending was anti-anticlimatic. We spend two and two-thirds books building up to a showdown with Alpha Fisa only to have her give up at the end. I also hated the unresolved secondary character issues, especially Piers and Kato. Kato, especially, seemed like a blatant attempt to sell future books set in this world. Bouchet moved off my auto-buy list with that. I may check out future books from the library in hopes that she regains the magic of her first books, but I won't buy.

I really liked the first book and second book, but geez this one had to much mushy stuff and a lot of holes left at the end. No real closure and a lot of whining from the main character. I ended up skipping a lot of the scenes between cat and griffin as they were just ridiculously over the top.

I'm pretty much mirroring what everyone else said. Loved the first two books, but this one felt different and drawn out until the climactic ending just kind of snuffed out. Still a great trilogy though! The author is highly creative, and I'm hoping she left certain characters' fates vague because she's going to continue their stories in a different series. Please? :)

Catalia Fisa has much to accomplish in this adrenaline-charged, emotionally rich and sometimes heartrending, roller coaster conclusion to The Kingmaker Chronicles, HEART ON FIRE. Cat faces fierce battles, not all of which are physical, a challenging quest, and finds herself thrown into one particularly dark and difficult ordeal. Together, Cat and Griffin are forging a new world between the three previously separate and often warring provinces of Tarva, Sinta, and Fisa. Cat’s greatest struggles result not only from her seriously evil and vicious mother’s actions, but her own fears and lack of confidence. Cat desperately needs to figure how to use her frustratingly erratic God-given powers which will enable her to be triumphant. Her path to victory comes with many hard choices. In Cat’s realm, doing what is right and honorable is rarely easy and often dangerous. She has the perfect man at her side in Griffin whose love and confidence helps Cat become everything she is meant to be. With his unconditional love and unwavering support, Griffin shows Cat no matter where the journey takes her, he will be there. Her own worries and self-doubt are perhaps the truest enemy if not the most tangible one. Cat sees herself as too damaged to be the queen she is destined to be. Griffin's love and support empowers Cat to overcome self-loathing and crippling uncertainty giving her the strength to take wing and fly.

By embracing her true purpose instead of fleeing it, Cat becomes the embodiment of “Elpis” which means hope; her destiny is to unite Thalyria. She wants the people to see life can be good when lived with joy and peace rather than brutality, neglect, and the abuse they have known. Cat must convince herself though as well that the Gods are on her side. However, the Gods are often far from benevolent; Cat finds their interactions less than helpful and frequently maddening. The capricious meddling Gods have quite a few surprises, not all of them pleasant, in their plans for her and Griffin. Cat’s family, those who are blood and ones claimed as such, also figure greatly into this epic tale. The harder Cat fights, the more her mother, Andromeda, unleashes her immense abilities as Cat’s most powerful and painful enemy. Soon to become a mother herself, Cat has even more reason to fight with every fiber of her being to establish a new world order.

Cat embodies my favorite kind of fantasy heroine. I love the combination of her courage, strength, stubbornness, and self-sacrificing loyalty thrown together with a little bit of crazy, but laced with humor to lighten a very heavy load. Cat never gives up or loses hope though she may falter in the darkest places. I thoroughly enjoyed this exceedingly well done book. Truthfully, there are some very painful places further demonstrating Amanda Bouchet’s skills as a writer who can elicit all variety of emotions from readers taking them on a journey to places of deep joy interwoven with heartbreaking agony, and other equally intense feelings along the way. The world and characters Amanda Bouchet has created hit all the right marks of action, adventure, and romance. It is such a pleasure to read a very satisfying and well-wrought end to this most enjoyable trilogy. I am left thinking about the characters long after the story has ended and longing for more. I can think of no higher compliment.

Was anyone else just as disappointed as I was about this third book? I loved the first two books. I re-read them multiple times just to get my Cat-Griffin-Beta Team fix while waiting on this third book to come out. I loved Cat in the first two installments. She was fierce, snarky, fearless and didn't take BS from anyone. What happened to her in book 3? I felt like she the Cat I knew was nowhere to be found. In book three she complained all the time, froze up when facing her mother, whined about not being able to access her magic. PATHETIC. I was so annoyed I almost did not finish the book. Over half the book was Cat complaining about how she couldn't access her magic to defeat her mother and complaining to the Gods that nobody would show her how to access it. I also felt like this book was rushed when writing. I mean there's big bad Alpha Fisa we were all scared of in books 1-2 and all of a sudden in book 3 she gets taken down in one chapter. Really?!?!? And what happened to Kato?!?! There are so many loose ends and I felt like Amanda rushed through the ending. I'll go back and read books 1-2 to get my Beta Team fix. They definitely deserve 5 stars. Only finished this book to get some sort of closure, however small it may be.

Three and a half stars. Oh dear, what a disappointment.

The climax to the Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy was, I'm sad to say, a bit of a yawn.

Spoilers ahead for the first two books.

At the end of the second book Cat and Griffin have conquered two of the three parts of the ancient Thalyria.

Griffin and his non-magical family overthrew the magical family which previously ruled Sinta, Griffin being the Beta Sinta and his elder sister being the Alpha. In the second book Cat, Griffin and their friends gain access to the ruling family of Tarva by winning the Agon Games and, with the help of two of the minor Tarvan royals kill the Tarvan Alpha and become the King and Queen. Now the only remaining realm is that ruled by Cat's psychotic mother Alpha Fisa.

Where to start? First, I couldn't work out which of Cat and her mother was the greatest fool. Cat's mother had the advantage of being more mature, having control of her magic, and being hard-hearted yet she signally failed to kill Cat on several occasions, because just like a Bond villain she liked to toy with her victims and gloat. On the other hand, Cat frequently had her mother at her mercy and then DID NOTHING. And don't get me started on the smexy times, I mentioned it in both the previous books as being excessive and out of place but jeez, you are supposed to be building tension for the grand confrontation and we kept detouring into kissy-kissy.

The gods and goddesses interfere so much in this book, and admit they have interfered time and time again that frankly Cat and Griffin just became puppets, puppets to whom the gods gave absolutely no instructions! I know the gods and goddesses are capricious and have vision beyond the ken of humans but it just left me with the feeling that nothing Cat did (or didn't do) had any meaning. Added to which Cat seemed to go off into deep navel-gazing sessions where she realised that she was a very special snowflake indeed and I just lost interest. Even the final confrontation was a bit meh.

In retrospect I wish I had left the series at the end of the first book.

Fantastic world building from Amanda Bouchet. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Though book one was my favourite, Heart on Fire has the same impact, pace and intrigue. I love the relationship between Cat and Griffin, that the chemistry is still sizzling between the two.
There were times when I felt that the questions surrounding Cat's abilities were a little repetitive, but not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the authors world and words.
A brilliant series.