Comments on: REVIEW: Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh

By: Janine

Janine — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:38:40 +0000

@Fancy: That didn't bother me because the book takes place almost immediately after Dorian's wedding. I figured he was honeymooning with Ashaya.

By: Fancy

Fancy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:57:27 +0000

I liked this book, but I expected a lot more of Dorian. I mean he was supposed to be MErcy’s best friend and is completely MIA in this book.

By: Vinny

Vinny — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:49:44 +0000

I absolutely adored this book, my favourite of the series, if only because the chemistry between Riley and Mercy was so hot (in defense, it was more built up over one or two books). I love Riley. He’s a more realistic kinda character, as much as you can be in a paranomal world. I haven’t really been a fan of any of the heroes, maybe Dorian or Judd, but I couldn’t click with their heroines. But Mercy’s my favourite 2009 heroine so far. So, there you go. But, I can be objective, sorta, and admit that in terms of the actual plot/book itself, it’s not on the level of some of the others in the series (like Caressed).

I love that Singh fleshes the world in each subsequent book (read in order everyone :x) and the overarching story makes for a stronger series. It’s complex in a way that I think Singh has got it planned out neatly (ahem, Anita Blake). I can’t wait for some of the cliffhangers to resolve themselves (I mean, um, Tatiana?! really?!). And if Singh ever wants to write a Kaleb book, I’m very firmly a member of Camp Kaleb. I think a Councillor book would be interesting.

By: chu6216067

chu6216067 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:28:33 +0000

i also agree with Janine, in this series, this one is my favorite, NS do her best jobs.
i like Riley and Mercy.

By: Janine

Janine — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:46:59 +0000

Cate, Caitie, Anita, Marga and Kat,

I wish I had the time to respond to your posts with the thoughtfulness they deserve. But since I am getting ready for RWA Nationals (my first time ever attending) I don’t have many free minutes right now. If I don’t find the time to reply before I leave, I hope I remember to respond after I get back home on the week of the 20th.

By: Kat

Kat — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:27:02 +0000

I laughed at how Hawke kept on telling people how he didnt touch Sienna…

@marga: One of the things I love about Pack rules is how the alpha, although absolute leader, is still answerable to his Sentinels if they feel s/he's done something that violates the, I guess, moral code of the the Pack. So I also loved that they were very protective of Sienna.

I think Tamsyn was only nineteen and Nate much older in the novella with their story (I’m drawing a blank on this story — I think it’s in the anthology An Enchanted Season). Therefore I’m not sure Singh will wait for Sienna to be much older when she writes their story. I actually hope she doesn’t, because I don’t think I can stand to wait that long.

@Janine: I so agree with you here. I think Beat of Temptation was a good precursor to Sienna/Hawke. As I recall it was Tamsyn felt that Nate was being unfair in not accepting the mating bond because he thought she was too young. I'm usually not a fan of huge age gaps, either, but I think this is one of those cases where I can accept the circumstances.

By: marga

marga — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:12:45 +0000

@ Janine
I Loved this book as much as i loved the whole series… I like how NS makes her stories a bit romantic without taking out the adventure, or letting the adventure drown the romance…
I loved Mercy, but i really like Riley too, ’cause he is strong but not so strong that he needs not ‘front’ with those he loves.
I felt that she had a good development on Hawke and Sienna, but that has been going on for a while now… i feel that Hawke despite the age difference might be a better match for her than Kit simply because by virtue of her powers Sienna has never really been a child, and therefore she needs someone strong beside her…
I laughed at how Hawke kept on telling people how he didnt touch Sienna…and also at how much Mercy teased Riley (it takes a lot of self confidence to come back from some of the stuff she said)…
All in all I’m buying a copy and sending it to my good friend in Kazakhstan…she doesnt read romance, but she is following this series…Guess that says a lot about Ms Singh’s talent!

By: Anita Chax

Anita Chax — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:47:15 +0000

Oh, I loved the opening sequence in BBF too! Is it the hottest NS scene so far or what?

By: Anita Chax

Anita Chax — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:31:24 +0000

@ Janine and cate
I’ve been thinking about this phenomenon of characters who’ve had their HEAs reappearing in the later books. I don’t mind cameo appearances because I too love to know how they’ve fared. I also love bits where former h/Hs and current h/Hs have a bit of a run in with each other. (It’s usually the heroes but NS did an interesting version with her psy heroines in an earlier book when one was unwelcoming to the other and then repenting her hostility. That fleshed out their characters for me.)

I however seem to resent in particular the alpha’s mate/queen/chieftan’s partner in PNRs having so much page space and importance and power in a book that is not hers. Intellectually I understand it’s the hierarchy of the clan structure and all that jazz but it doesn’t work for me in a romance.

Kresley Cole does a brilliant job of circumventing this. In each of her books, the h/H has some of the most powerful villain(s) of the lore to overcome. And in each of her books, the h/H are special and unique and definitely not second to the King/Queen. And it’s ok in her world if former protagonists and current protagonists do not like each other.

By: Caitie

Caitie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:46:16 +0000

I really liked Branded by Fire, but it wasn’t my favorite in the series, that’s still “Hostage to Pleasure.” Can’t wait for more with Hawk and Sienna either! I thought that Nalini had said that the two of them will have a book/be a couple one day. I could be wrong here, but I think I read something like that on her blog at one point. They aren’t the main characters in either of the next 2 books in the series (Blaze of Memory or the one following), but I’m keeping my fingers crossed #9 will be about them!

By: cate

cate — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:55:41 +0000

I’ll stick my head on the block here & say that I disagree about the time spent with returning HEA’s.
Part of the reason that I love this series (apart from the fab storytelling) is that NS is continually showing us the growth of the Changeling/Psy community. Which is a brand new entity in this world of her’s .
One of the prime causes of loosing faith with long running series, like those of Katie MacAllister’s & Charlaine Harris is, that there is a stagnation in the series, a repetitiousness which NS seems to be successfully avoiding.
I think this is due to the attention paid to previous characters & their evolution in successive novels.
P.S …..I don’t think Hawke & Sienna will be a couple. Feel free to throw chocolate if I’m wrong !

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:36:22 +0000

@Juliana Stone: I hope you enjoy them! Please feel welcome to post your thoughts here when you read them. @anita chax: I agree there was probably a little too much about characters who already have their HEAs. I'm not sure how it would read to someone who hadn't read any of the other books. And Hawke and Sienna are combustible, indeed. I can't wait for their story. Still, I didn't feel they overshadowed Mercy and Riley. Maybe it's just because I adored Mercy so! And the cat/wolf opening sex scene was so hot!!! Their romance still felt intense to me, even with Sienna and Hawke's scenes in their book. @Pearl: It's true we are commenting on Hawke and Sienna a lot. That's because some really intriguing details were revealed in the book, I think. And I agree that after this, readers will be clamoring for these to to get together. I hope you enjoy Branded by Fire. Let me know what you thought if you feel so inclined.

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:27:49 +0000

@marga: I hope you enjoy(ed) it! @Reader:

It will be really interesting to see how that relationship (hopefully) develops because didn’t Hawke lose his mate? And if Hawke and Sienna are mates…wouldn’t they have felt the bond already?

I don't think Hawke and Sienna are mates yet. And if I recall correctly, it was stated in BBF that Hawke loved a girl who would have been his mate had she lived to grow up. So yes, his love died, but I think she wasn't actually his mate yet. @orannia: Not thanks necessary -- pimping great books is the best part of this gig. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And the AAR thread on tough heroines in the paranormal genre is here. @Amy: I'm glad my recommendation worked out for you. Thanks for letting me know.

Also, I’m not fond of big age gaps between the male/female leads; I can deal with such a romance only if the younger (female) is at least in the mid to late-twenties. Since Sienna is only 18, I actually hope Hawke and Sienna’s story (assuming that is where Singh is heading) will not get written for several more years!

I think Tamsyn was only nineteen and Nate much older in the novella with their story (I'm drawing a blank on this story -- I think it's in the anthology An Enchanted Season). Therefore I'm not sure Singh will wait for Sienna to be much older when she writes their story. I actually hope she doesn't, because I don't think I can stand to wait that long.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:16:27 +0000

I got this book yesterday and can’t wait to read it thanks to all the great reviews and tidbits.

One thing I’ve noticed about all the reviews and conversations about this book is that readers are commenting on Hawke and Sienna as much as Mercy and Riley, who are the main characters. If Singh does write Hawke and Sienna’s tale, she’ll have a lot of readers for it because everyone’s rooting for them.

By: anita chax

anita chax — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:40:47 +0000

Ok I’m soooo weak! I went and bummed a copy off a friend and spent an entire night reading it (project be damned)! Man, can Singh write! Loved Mercy. Loved Riley. But when I began to re-read my fave bits I discovered most of them had Sienna and Hawke. What a combustible combination S and H made and what a brilliant set up. There’s something really endearing and enduring about a story when the h/H have to overcome insurmountable odds. And the odds are certainly stacked up against Hawke and Sienna far more than Riley and Mercy. Ah, the baggage of the past (in Hawke’s case) does give a story such intense drama. In contrast, M and R seemed to have less to work towards and much less to come to terms with and much less grovelling to do. It seems to me they were bonded much earlier than they did.

Mind you, this is a very good book, a very re-readable book, a keeper, but Hawke and Sienna overshadowed Riley and Mercy’s journey for me even though they appeared in just a few paras.

Oh, there’s far too much about other characters who’ve already had their HEAs.

So there. My penny’s worth. Back to my project.

By: Juliana Stone

Juliana Stone — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:59:50 +0000

Okay, I need to pull these from my TBR pile like now, ……I met nalini last year at nationals and she is a sweet, sweet lady in person. tiny and cute!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:36:22 +0000

I am exhausted (from staying up late) but I loved the story! I agree the transition to various points of view seem choppy at times, but those issues were minor for me. I remain hooked on this series and can’t wait for the next book. My favorite remains Slave to Sensations; this and Caressed by Ice probably tie for my second favorite in the series. I must admit that I’ve reached a point where I cannot recall all the the character details/plot/sub-plot lines mentioned in previous books. I think I need to start over from the beginning and read each book back-to-back. As for Hawke and Sienna, I’m not a fan of love triangles and the hint of a triangle developing makes me wary. Also, I’m not fond of big age gaps between the male/female leads; I can deal with such a romance only if the younger (female) is at least in the mid to late-twenties. Since Sienna is only 18, I actually hope Hawke and Sienna’s story (assuming that is where Singh is heading) will not get written for several more years!

By: orannia

orannia — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:35:26 +0000

Thank you Janine! I finished reading this book last night and loved it! As a matter of fact I love the whole series. Nalini balances her all the various threads in her stories so well! And the connections between the characters – the familial relationships – there is such a sense of belonging :)

Right now there is a thread on AAR about tough-as-nails heroines that are difficult to relate to.

I need to read this thread :)

By: Reader

Reader — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:20:50 +0000

I really liked this book; I’m hooked on the series as well! Carressed by Ice is still my favorite but this book was definitely the hottest and steamiest of the entire series. I CAN NOT wait for Hawke and Sienna’s book and I hope they end up together….I must admit, while reading this, I kept wanting more and more of Hawke and Sienna- it was so frustrating! It will be really interesting to see how that relationship (hopefully) develops because didn’t Hawke lose his mate? And if Hawke and Sienna are mates…wouldn’t they have felt the bond already? I WANT TO READ THEIR BOOK!!! It sucks that we’ll probably have to wait a few years!! :((((((((((((((((((

By: marga

marga — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:50:46 +0000

i’m so jealous of you all that have managed to read this book…
my copy is only arriving in 12 hours (hopefully) and i’m too excited to sleep….