Lord of Fire was a fabulous book that has a little bit of everything: heart-pounding action and suspense, spy intrigue, history, and best of all, swoon-worthy romance. Galen Foley's writing style contains a richness of detail that vividly brings to life the world she has created, making me feel like I had actually been transported to another time and place. It is apparent to me through reading her books and looking at her website that Ms. Foley is meticulous with her historical research, and it definitely shows in her writing. I also loved that the author kept me on my toes throughout the story. Every time I thought that she was going to resort to some well-worn plot device, she surprised me. There were many times I thought that Lucien and Alice were going to have the “big misunderstanding,” but then not long after a confession would be forthcoming. They did have a few quarrels, which can often be irritating to me, but in this case, I found them to be genuine issues that a couple in their circumstances might actually have to face, rather than just petty bickering. Even though there were a couple of things that I predicted would happen early on, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, because there were plenty of things that didn't go as I expected. I normally am not a fan of love at first sight stories, but Ms. Foley managed to make me believe in this couple's love for one another and a lasting happily-ever-after, even though they had only know each other for a short time. She accomplished this by creating a deep emotional connection between Lucien and Alice, as well as between the characters and the reader, by having them get to know each other fairly intimately before sharing physical intimacies. Admittedly, the love scenes are few, but I found the sexual tension to be exquisite and laden with tender emotions. All in all, Lord of Fire was a very well-rounded story that kept me excited about reading it.Lucien and Alice were a wonderful and perfectly matched couple. In spite of his charming personality, Lucien is a tortured soul. Working deep undercover as a spy for the Crown, he lives a dark, rather solitary existence. Personally knowing someone who has done deep cover law enforcement work and having heard some of his stories, I felt that the aloneness and soul-searing intensity of Lucien's work was very realistically rendered. It was a fabulous contrast of dark and light, and doing things you really don't want to for the greater good. Lucien loved his twin, Damien, deeply, and their recent estrangement over Lucien's choice of professions has left him feeling more alone then ever. Yet, Lucien has always felt like he was living in his brother's shadow and never quite measuring up. When Alice unexpectedly shows up in Lucien's life she brings the light of her innocence and goodness into his darkened world, making his heart long for things he thought lost to him forever. When Lucien used trickery and manipulation to keep Alice at his country estate, I wasn't sure I would like him, but aside from that one lapse, he behaved in a gentlemanly way for the remainder of the book, which endeared him to both me and Alice. I thought Alice was a very well-balanced heroine. She was kind, caring and intuitive, understanding Lucien in a way that most people didn't, and he reciprocated in kind. She also had spunk and spirit, speaking her mind to both Lucien and her sister-in-law, Caro, when the circumstances warranted. There were a few time when Alice's spunk led her into potentially dangerous situations, but I felt like I generally understood her reasoning and that she was usually just trying to protect those she loved. Overall, I found Lucien and Alice to be a delightful couple who were a pleasure to read.The palette of secondary characters was varied and interesting. Lucien's rogues were charming and entertaining. The main villain, Claude Bardou, was irredeemably evil, bringing a dangerous menace to the story. There are a couple of other foreign spies, an American double-agent and a Russian woman, who added a bit of extra intrigue. Alice's sister-in-law, Caro, is very well-rendered as a flamboyant, self-centered woman who rarely thinks of anything but her own pleasures, and has little interest in even trying to be a good mother to her three-year-old son, Harry. Harry is a sweet, endearing child who charms nearly everyone with whom he comes in contact. In addition to these, there are a whole host of other supporting characters who for the most part play small roles, but manage to add a great deal of depth to the other characters and the narrative. The most realistic and intriguing of the secondary characters though, is Lucien's identical twin brother, Damien. These two rogues may look alike, but their personalities are opposites, with Lucien being a charming, smooth-tongued devil and Damien being more staid, reserved and uncomfortable in social settings. Most interesting of all is the sympathetic portrayal of Damien as an honorable man and wounded war hero suffering from severe PTSD. I was so fascinated by Damien that I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series, Lord of Ice, in which he becomes the hero.Lord of Fire is the second book in the Knight Miscellany series. It is preceded by The Duke, which was another wonderful book. I wasn't sure that Ms. Foley would be able to equal it, but I was mistaken. As much as I enjoyed The Duke, I actually liked Lord of Fire slightly better. The remaining books in the series are Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire, Devil Takes a Bride, One Night of Sin and His Wicked Kiss. I love Ms. Foley's writing style, and think that she has found a great balance between descriptive prose and beautiful dialog. With two keepers in a row, she has definitely earned a place on my favorite authors list. In fact, I have already ordered a copy of Lord of Ice and will be anxiously watching for it to arrive in my mailbox, so that I can read sexy, tortured twin, Damien's story and continue this enchanting and thoroughly romantic series.
I don't know what it is about Gaelen Foley's heroes but Oh.My.God. How does she make them so good?! Romance writers take some notes. Lord of Fire has a bit of everything: action, suspense, spies, murder, history and of course a heart pounding and swoon worthy romance.Lord Of Fire is Lucian's story. The 'fallen' twin who never quite measures up to older brother Damien. A spy who hosts 'orgies'-literal orgies-in the grotto of his home, Ravell Court to gain/bewitch invitee's into giving away useful information. In spite of his charming personality, Lucian is really rather tortured. No one really knows him or understands him. Lucian isn't at all what I expected him to be. He really is a unique blend of power and vulnerability. At the beginning of the book, Lucian and his older twin brother, Damien are estranged. Lucian believes his brother is disappointed in him for leaving the army to become a spy for the crown. When I read the grotto scenes my first thought was 'My, He really is a devil, isn't he?' but Lucian-Lucifer, the fallen twin-is on the verge of having a mental breakdown. He has witnessed and performed all sorts of dispicable acts of humanity. Having done and seen a lot of horrible things, Lucian has become completely disenfranchised with everything and everyone. Then suddenly, there is a crack of sunlight through the hard confines of his heart in the form Of Alice Montague. When Alice Montague unexpectedly arrives in Lucian's life she brings the light and innocence into his dark world making him long for things he never thought he could have.Alice is light,goodness and innocence but she is rather more than that. She is not only kind, caring and intuitive, understanding Lucien in a way that most people didn't-she has a lot of spirit and spunk. Alice is not afraid to speak her mind or put somebody into their place when the need arrives-ie:Lucian and Caro. Alice has her own problems. One in the form of her sister in law, Caro(BITCH) who doesn't care for Alice's reputation let alone her own. Caro runs around doing all sorts of unrespectable things(including having an affair with Lucian, as well as attending the orgies) while leaving Alice to look after her four year old, Harry. I honestly loved Lucian and Alice together(THE GROTTO SCENE!!THE POETRY SCENE!!! THEIR WALKS!!!!) Of course there was that whole 'Dark/Light' element to their love story. I believe there is even a line in the book where Lucian compares his 'abduction' of Alice to the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone.(Which is an A++, Gaelen Foley. How did you know that was my favorite?!)There is also their growing together, learning about each other and actually UNDERSTANDING one another. Lucian is able to be vulnerable in front her-something he has always strived to never be. Alice is able to be 'free', to be herself with Lucian. No pretense, no masks.Gaelen Foley creates a deep emotional connection between Lucien and Alice in unforgettable scenes and Lucian and Alice are able to fill in each others voids. This story is really about Lucian's redemption and self acceptance as well as his journey to true love and becoming a better man. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT??
What do You think about Lord Of Fire (2002)?
This books starts off highly charged with Lucien holding court over a party that is basically a BDSM and orgy scene. I did say these books were not for the faint of heart didn't I?Lucien and Alice's first scene together made my toes curl and well, basically "Oh Nelly!" is all I have to say about that. Lucien is that delicious combo of dangerously dark and little boy vulnerable. Alice is the consummate good girl (Lucien calls her "Goody Two-Shoes") until she gets around Lucien, then she finds herself behaving in ways she never imagined. Sounds a little trite but trust me people it works, or at least it did for me! This book started off incredibly good but kind of fizzled toward the middle and end. The end picks up in action with a spy trying to blow up London and Lucien trying to stop it.This story worked best for me with Alice and Lucien struggling to deal with their feelings. Good god the tension! Completely dark book but I loved it. I can't seem to adequately put into words why I loved this book, it's just I was completely tied to these characters and will remember them for a long time. The first line of the book is a quote by Shakespeare: "Something wicked this way comes". Couldn't have said it better myself.
—Kyraryker
I give this book 2 1/2 stars because I hate the heroine, Alice. She is a priggish goody shoes. Her stupidity nearly got the H, Lucien killed! When heroine nearly gets the hero killed because of her stupidity, I get pissed off and turned off to her. Endangering the H by the h really bugs me. I loved the H though, (I defy anyone who likes this series as a whole, not love LK! However, his single flaw is his objectionable taste in women--the h, Alice!Some romance readers maybe upset that LK "forced" Alice to become his "guest" and the way that he engineered her "visit." It was rather ruthless, but he did promise not to "do" anything that she did not want him to do. I don't have these hang ups with a piece of fiction. It's not real.I was moved by Lucien's loneliness due to his estrangement from his identical twin brother (I've always been intrigued by the special bond between twins) and the necessary loneliness due to his chosen profession as a spy. I would have definitely given this a higher rating if the h, Alice was not such a twit alway trying to throw her imagined weight around. However, the subplot with the spying, intrigue, derring-do and arch villains was very, very compelling. This is what contributed to make this book a page-turner!I wish I could have given this a higher rating of 4 - 4 1/2 stars if the h had been decent and not TSTL. Lucien deserved a better and smarter love interest. I didn't care if the h/H had a HEA.Even though Alice got on my nerves, I still like this series. I can't expect to be wild about each h/H combination. Here is my ranking for the first two books of the series:1) The Duke2) Lord of FireI forgot to mention tin chapters 5 and 7 Lucien talks about he and Damien's natural father the Marquess of Carnarthen, his scandalous mother, the 8th duchess of Hawkscliffe and the circumstances of he and his twin's birth. It is always interesting when the Knight siblings discuss this.
—Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder
3.5 stars reallyThis is the second book in the Knights Miscellany series that began with The Duke.I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with this book. After the truly excellent, The Duke, I was expecting something of that high calibre for the second book, but somehow this book just wasn’t on par. There were just some elements of this book that I didn’t like so much, but nevertheless, there were a lot of positives as well, so I’m still giving it a relatively high rating.What I liked about the bookThe hero of the book, Lucien Knight is probably my favourite amongst the Knight brothers so far. (I’m currently on book #5: Devil Takes a Bride.) A lot of other readers may have a different “vision” on what he looks like, but for me, his description kind of reminds me of Henry Cavill (yes, the guy who played Charles Brandon in The Tudors and who is now more well known for playing Superman in the recent reboot), so as shallow as it may sound, I like the hero because he reminds me of Henry Cavill. However, setting looks aside, what I like about Lucien is that he doesn’t have a black and white view of the world; he does have a bit of a bad boy image, but he does have a noble heart. Given his profession, he’s like a Regency James Bond. This persona nicely differentiates him from his more paragon elder brother Robert (The Duke) and the war hero Damien (Lord of Ice), and you could almost feel that he may be Ms Foley’s favourite given his other appearances in the other novels in the series.Some readers may not like the way he manipulated Alice into staying with him in Revell Court or the way he treated Caro. I kind of had a problem with it myself, but I just let it go given his other actions as the story progressed. Let’s just say, I just accepted his “bad boy” with a “heart of gold” persona.I also appreciate the very different plot and tone of this novel compared to The Duke and the other books in the series. While some readers may not like the spy versus spy and the terrorist sub-plot, I kind of appreciate them because not only does it show that Ms Foley likes infusing her novels with some historical context, but I thought they were kind of exciting and shows the effort she exerts in differentiating her novels from one another. While other romance series I’ve been reading feel like the author is just rehashing the same plot/outline for each book, albeit with different characters and twists, you don’t get that feeling with this series. This book is very different from The Duke, Lord of Ice and the others.Lastly, for those who want to see what had happened to Belle and Robert after the events in The Duke, they make an appearance in this book that may be short, but gave enough info.What I didn’t like about this bookUnfortunately, while Lucien is currently my favourite hero, the heroine, Alice is my least favourite. Some reviewers found that Alice as the virginal virtuous spinster was made to be the polar opposite of her vain self-centered sister-in-law, Caro, and that highlighted the author’s tendency to write one-dimensional characters. In some ways, I do agree with these comments. Alice, to me, was kind of a boring character and I found her judgmental attitude towards Lucien annoying. In the end, while Alice and Lucien did get an HEA, I kind of wished Lucien fell for someone who was a bit more like himself, someone with many facets to his character (not very one-dimensional) who was neither a black-or-white figure, maybe someone like the female spy, Sophie, who can hold her own ground, but like him has enough vulnerability to need someone. Alice was simply too irritatingly “pure” for him and just plain boring (yes, I have to say it again).A great appetiser for Book #3Overall, I think Ms Foley still wrote a good second book for the series and it was enough to entice me to go to Book #3 (Lord of Ice) which centers on Lucien’s twin, Damien, who made several intriguing appearances in this book.
—Antonia
