Synopsis
Gods walk among men, but the empire they have forged is on the brink of collapse.
As whispers of rebellion grow louder, Ensin Andik uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the very foundation of the divine reign. Every discovery pulls him deeper into a dangerous web, forcing him to confront truths that could shatter his unshakeable loyalty.
On the other side, Eshfen, a ruthless rebel with a cunning mind and a thirst for chaos, stokes the flames of dissent. He sows doubt in the hearts of the people, challenging the gods’ right to rule and sparking a dangerous game of shadows that could bring down empires.
Caught between loyalty and self-discovery, Shadi, a young noblewoman, grapples with the weight of family honor and the desire for independence. With her fiercely devoted bodyguard, Darjin, by her side, Shadi must navigate the treacherous waters of loyalty, love, and betrayal, where every choice could be their last.
As destinies intertwine and alliances shift, these four must face the gods themselves — or watch the world they know crumble to ashes.
In THE CRIMSON FIRE, loyalties will be tested, truths will be unmasked, and power will be up for grabs. Will the gods’ reign endure, or is the age of mortals ready to rise?
THE CRIMSON FIRE is a sweeping tale of rebellion, sacrifice, and the unrelenting clash between power and destiny. Packed with gripping political intrigue, high-stakes action, and unforgettable characters, it’s a saga that will ignite your imagination and keep you turning pages late into the night.
Review
The Crimson Fire introduces us to the Memories of Kenjir series, then takes a well-deserved bow and milks the applause, before letting you know there is much more to come.
Montero throws you in at the deep end, with a heist that introduces us to some complex world-building and a POV we don’t get to see again until much later in the book. But that’s the crux, and a hint that this is not a conventional fantasy. For once this rip-roaring section is complete, we enter the world of Shadi and her Dagger, Darjin. From here we get a slow burn storyline that drip feeds you the world and society that Shadi has to navigate, based around the omnipresent Masters, and the upcoming Trials. It is the complexity of these two characters, and their relationship, that draws you in, and you find yourself turning the pages, desperate to know where their entwined loyalties lead. It is their emotional journey that erupts in the last third of the book, and everything becomes clear as Montero pulls the threads of the complex plot together into a dramatic and action-packed conclusion.
The Crimson Fire is one of those fantasy books that creeps up on you, insinuating itself into your thoughts, until you realise that you are fully invested in the people created by the author. People with real emotions, that act consistently and true to their character until circumstance and life turn them away from such a path. And for that, Montero must be congratulated.
There is so much to love here, and a layer of intricacy that leaves you ready for the next in the series. I must also say that though English is Montero’s second language, I am jealous of his turn of phrase and the beauty of some his description. I leave you with two thoughts ‒ firstly, that once you meet a Tamer and their sparrowhawk, you will be dreaming of the possibilities. And finally, that the Dagger has one of the most brutal origin stories conceived.
Please note I received an ARC copy of this book from the author.
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