Contents:

It was early, not quite seven in the morning. She had paid for orange juice and happened to glance sideways, to her right, just as the cashier was carefully placing change into her palm. A tousled, sweet-looking boy, maybe four or five. Nothing wrong with what he was doing. Kids were always curious. But it took her off guard, and her hand trembled—so much so that the change slid and clattered to the counter, bouncing down on the floor around her feet. It should have been a small thing—it was a small thing—but it was also loud and awkward, and drew unwanted attention.

Soria was very much tempted to grab her drink, leave the scattered nickels and dimes, and run. She bent, her face hot, and glimpsed from the corner of her eye the long line of men and women fidgeting impatiently behind her. For one moment as her purse swung awkwardly from her left shoulder to hit the floor, she felt herself trying to reach out with her missing right arm to pick the change off the tile. All she got for her trouble was excruciating pain, a phantom echo where her limb should be, and another dose of humiliation.

Bitter loneliness smashed through her heart like a fist. Her ghost fist, maybe, as stubborn about dying as she had been. Beside her, someone knelt. Large, sinewy fingers enclosed her hand, and loose change was carefully deposited into her palm. The contact was brief but fiercely warm, and it sent a tingle through her. She had not been touched by anyone in a long time. Soria poured the change into her purse, grabbed the juice from the cashier, and stepped away from the counter to make room for the next woman in line.

Flustered, sweating, she finally gazed into the face of the man who had helped her. He was handsome, which was just her luck. His face was paler than his hands, but just as sinewy and spare. Light green eyes glinted with sharp intelligence, and his neatly trimmed dark red hair appeared skimmed with golden threads under the overhead lights. He was tall, with broad shoulders straining against a forest green cashmere sweater that hugged the lean muscles of his chest.

A silver chain glinted around his neck, disappearing beneath his clothing. Soria wanted to kick herself. Again, she felt her brain tell her missing right arm to reach out—such a hateful sensation—and the pain that echoed through her head was nauseating and dull. Soria awkwardly dumped her juice bottle into her purse and took the ticket from his outstretched hand. Soria hesitated, staring into his eyes, and all his attractive features faded into a blur. Uneasiness rolled through her stomach, into her lungs, into the lurch of her heart.

Not simply because of his reluctance to release the ticket, and not just because the glint in his gaze suddenly seemed irredeemably cold. The man had switched languages on her. English to Welsh, she realized. And not just any Welsh, but an old dialect, practically medieval, and most certainly dead. And she—like an idiot—had responded without thinking. In the same tongue. The man stepped back, still holding her plane ticket. Soria turned and walked in the opposite direction.

The Fire King

Never mind her plane ticket; she could buy another. Never mind the job interview in New York with the U. If she missed that, there would be others. She felt the ghost of her missing arm swinging from her body, that phantom limb, replete with an itch where her wrist should have been. She ignored the discomfort, wished she had some chewing gum to take the bad taste out of her mouth.

Airport crowds passed in a blur, but she felt gazes flicker to her empty sleeve and then dart away. She did not know what was worse: That she did not exist. Ahead, an impossibly slender girl stepped into her path, facing her. She was Asian, clad in a pink plaid miniskirt so short that if she had not been wearing cropped gray tights underneath, she might very well have been arrested for indecent exposure. A pink hooded sweatshirt clung to her torso, and her glossy black hair, streaked pink, was pulled up in pigtails decorated with plastic Hello Kitty beads that clacked when her head tilted.

She wore a mockery of tennis shoes: A messenger bag covered in yet more Hello Kitties slung loose over her flat chest. Soria stopped walking, light-headed. Soria herself was thirty years old, but she felt ancient and used when she looked at the girl, old eyes or not. She was no better than some grizzled gunslinger, too long alive in the world. Heat settled in her chest, old instincts, raw and battered.

She was not ready. Soria turned her head, slightly. The red-haired man was behind her, close enough to touch. His gaze was assessing and cold. Fear tingled through her. Curiosity, she admitted, was what had gotten her into trouble in the first place, and here it was again, that same intellectual itch that was dangerous as a gun to her head. The terminal was a long, winding hall of upscale shops surrounded by golden wood and the occasional elaborate sculpture—no doubt meant to imitate the warmth of some lodge, easy and comfortable.

A good scream would draw hundreds of eyes. But that old curiosity kept her silent, as well as nostalgia … and loneliness. She sensed that slip of a teen girl swaying closer, and stepped sideways so that she could keep both her and the man in sight. Cold amusement flickered through his eyes. Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out a battered silver bracelet: A chunk of turquoise, like an eye, had been embedded in the cuff.

He held out the bracelet. We have an appointment. Though, if behaving in a law-abiding and civilized fashion is too much of an affront, I'm sure Ku-Ku would be more than happy to kick in the door and make Mr. Jul 29, Julie jjmachshev rated it really liked it Shelves: A year-old, hunky shifter and a special woman wounded physically and emotionally make for an engrossing read. Each of her books, at least those in this series, dig down behind the differences in her characters whether they're shifter or human and draw on the feelings and emotions that are present in each of them.

Soria is a human with something extra--the ability to understand and speak any languag A year-old, hunky shifter and a special woman wounded physically and emotionally make for an engrossing read. Soria is a human with something extra--the ability to understand and speak any language, as long as she is in the presence of a native speaker of that language. One year ago she suffered a horrible betrayal and lost her right arm. Since then she has barricaded herself in her apartment Imagine her surprise when her new mission turns out to be a year-old fairy tale The product of two different shifters, something that is supposed to be impossible.

Now she and the chimera are on the run and Soria isn't sure who is friend and who is enemy. Karr was the warlord of the shifters from a time when Egyptians and Hittites ruled. He sacrificed himself to save his people, so what is he doing alive now? And who is this woman who appears to be the only one who can understand and speak with him? Again and again she appears to help him during their escape and flight Liu does a wonderful job of making her paranormal characters human. She brings out their hopes, fears, happiness, and disappointments and I, for one, can't get enough of it.

Each of these books can be read as a stand-alone, but each also furthers an overarching storyline that continues to evolve with each novel. The story rolls out as smoothly as my favorite chocolate and the characters become people I want to know more about and want to see happy.

My only real beef is that she doesn't write fast enough! Feb 12, Zeek rated it really liked it Shelves: Really touched by the heroine in this book. Like a universal translator, she can instantly learn any language and communicate. A powerful being awakened from thousands of years of sleep, no one can communicate with him. Except one lady, the only person, who understands him. But can he trust the humans and other shifters who years past were once his enemy?

I really enjoyed this one- read it in one sitting. And I like the addition Liu has added to her world through the MC. Looking forward to the next in the series. Aug 22, Janice Janicu rated it liked it. The heroine of this story is Soria, a woman with an extraordinary ability to pick up languages.

It's always been the case since she was a child, and people call her a prodigy. They don't realize that it's magic, and that the mere presence of a fluent speaker is all she needs. It was a useful gift when she was with the Dirk and Steele agency, but after the loss of her right arm, Soria had a falling out with them and left. Unexpectedly, the agen http: Unexpectedly, the agency makes another appearance in her life: This is a Dirk and Steele novel 9? I had only read book 1 before this. The first part of the book had me hooked on the characters and wanting to learn their back story.

From what I could tell it happened about a year before this story starts, and Soria's still recovering from it feeling it's ghost, being aware of people's reactions. I was burning with curiosity about what happened and why Soria blames herself for it. Tantalizing hints were dropped like breadcrumbs, but it wasn't enough to figure out the whole story.

I had to wait until Soria told it. Likewise Karr's story is mysterious as well. How in the world is he alive after three thousand years in a tomb? Then, what is he? At first I thought he was feared because he was so strong and killed a few people when he woke up, but that wasn't the only reason. The cover of the book is a little deceptive - it has a lion on it. I thought he was a lion shapeshifter.

The book has a bit of a romantic suspense quality to it mixed with the paranormal elements. Both protagonists are cautious about each other Friend or foe? Are my instincts right? The romance was about equal to the suspense and action. It progresses at a natural rate, and by the time the two say their "I love yous" it's a given. I thought that although Karr is over the age difference didn't count because he'd been "dead" most of the time. The romance was nicely paced. Although it did a lot of things I expected, I did like how communication is explored in their relationship.

I'd read the first Dirk and Steele Tiger Eye before I had this blog, and in that book, the agency was family-like.

A Dirk & Steele Novel

In The Fire King, it no longer feels that way. Dirk and Steele suddenly seem more shady and Roland is tight-lipped, nursing his own agenda. It's hard to tell who the good guys are and there are surprises about who is after Karr. Then of course there are the very enigmatic side characters I think that they may be reoccurring ones, but not sure.

As does a character who appeared in Tiger Eye. The plot was complex enough for me to like it. There were some not quite black or white parts to the characters and some surprises. By the end of the book things made sense, but I had to think it over a bit, which isn't a bad thing.

On the other hand, I felt like I'd wake up in the middle of the night saying "a-ha a plot hole! There very minor things like how Soria could make braids with one hand or how Karr and Soria's mental connection worked, but not enough to really bug me while I read. I guess the biggest problem I had was that the protagonists kept getting helped out by others. I would have like to see more of them working together to get out of jams, because I liked seeing them interact. One of my favorite parts of the book was the setting - in northern China and Mongolia. The non-American setting, where the reader is really aware of life in another country, not just aware the book is set there and nothing else, is refreshing.

I particularly enjoyed reading about the ger of the Bhatukhan people I wanted to sleep in one! I like the writing style, the setting, the characters. The romance progressed at a nice pace, and although it goes through some familiar phases, their bond of communication was intriguing. I had only minor quibbles on the plot see above. I don't read as much paranormal romance as I do urban fantasy, so my reading in this genre is limited, but I thought this one was well-done. Feb 18, Felicia rated it liked it Shelves: This was the first Dirk and Steele book I've read, and I think my experience suffers for not having read the previous 10 books, lol.

I really REALLY was attracted to this book because the main character is a one-armed woman, which I thought was so weird, but, in the hands of the author, was so lovingly handled as not to be a joke. I really loved that part of the book, and the relationship between the two main characters. I guess the plot was just a bit too thin to support it, not a lot seemed to This was the first Dirk and Steele book I've read, and I think my experience suffers for not having read the previous 10 books, lol.

I guess the plot was just a bit too thin to support it, not a lot seemed to happen and there was lots of talking, so it moved a bit slow to me, but again, maybe that was because I didn't read all the backstory, so secondary characters didn't have the depth they would have had I read previous books. Very intrigued by this series so I'll start from the beginning and see if my perspective changes.

I did enjoy that it was a bit more thoughtful than most in the genre. View all 3 comments. Sep 07, AvidReader rated it liked it. So far i have read Marjorie M Liu books. Her story telling and writing style makes the whole book interesting but always , the book doesn't satisfy you completely once you finished reading. It definitely leaves an impact with the readers but i think some questions aren't properly answered. And also when some characters bond with others in these books we think next we will get their books but when it comes out those characters are paired with different people , it is little b So far i have read Marjorie M Liu books.

And also when some characters bond with others in these books we think next we will get their books but when it comes out those characters are paired with different people , it is little bit irritating. Apr 25, Kerry rated it really liked it Shelves: I haven't been in the mood for romance lately, or at least, not the genre version, but I wanted something different as a break from The Curse of the Mistwraith and this is the one that caught my eye.

I've been reading Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steele series from the beginning, but I was starting to lose track of what had gone before and who was who, so I didn't immediately buy this one when it came out. Then I discovered that it, and all the previous books, were finally available as ebooks. That I haven't been in the mood for romance lately, or at least, not the genre version, but I wanted something different as a break from The Curse of the Mistwraith and this is the one that caught my eye.

That pretty much made the decision for me, I purchased it and surprise, surprise it immediately sat in the TBR list as my books usually do.

It had a lot of good reviews when it came out, so I was rather looking forward to reading it. I'm very glad I did. This was an excellent addition to the series. There wasn't too much baggage from earlier books, meaning I could get on with enjoying the story here without worrying too much about what had happened before. There was one recurring character that I don't remember much about Robert , but since I know he's still a mystery to everyone else, it didn't matter at all that he was also a mystery to me.

All the same, I hope he gets his own book one day and we finally find out what his story is. I loved Soria and Karr. Both were well-rounded with good, solid back stories and it was lovely seeing them get to know each other. Their interaction was lovely. I really liked the way Karr walked most easily in his chimera shape rather than staying in human form - something that fitted with his history as well as his personality - and the way Soria took that in her stride and accepted it as part of him.

Karr was equally human, lion and dragon and he embraced all of them rather than trying to fit the human norm. Of course, that was easier when he was originally alive and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future now he wants to live in the modern world with Soria. I also particularly liked that Liu chose to make what had happened when Soria lost her arm not be something paranormal. So often in a paranormal book, everything ends up tying back to the character's abilities and the plot of the book.

Here, this is not the case, and it was a refreshing change. What happened to her had a huge effect on her and was a major factor in why she ended up in the place she did with Karr and therefore was every important, but I really liked that it was separate from anything to do with Dirk and Steele. We saw progress for Eddie, who suffered a major, um, "setback" in the earlier book, The Last Twilight. While I don't remember all the details of that, we were given enough for this story, which was all that was needed.

It will be interesting to see what we learn about him next - and if Evie sticks around. Eddie and his choices at the end of the book act as a stark contrast to what Roland does or rather doesn't do both in this book and earlier when Soria was hurt. He doesn't come across particularly well here, but I suspect there is more to things than we have learned so far.

I will be interested to see if Roland ends up getting a book of his own and what we will discover then. He's certainly not past the point of no return, but he's got some work to do to beat his own demons. I rather think I'd like to see him do it. But he sure owes Soria for past behaviour. It was also a nice touch that, while his is clearly a romance, it actually contains no explicit sex.

Paperback Editions

I received Marjorie M. Liu's The Fire King, her ninth Dirk & Steele novel, as an Advanced Reader's copy. In general, I am not a romance reader, with the. bahana-line.com: The Fire King: A Dirk & Steele Novel (Dirk & Steele Series) ( ): Marjorie M. Liu: Books.

While I have nothing at all against a good sex scene, it can be annoying when over-the-top attraction, lust and sex take over from the story. If I have to choose, I'll take a good story over a sex scene any day. In The Fire King , Liu focuses on the story and the development of the relationship between Soria and Karr, rather than just lust.

That's a win in my book. The existence of the chimera also answers an interesting question about the shapeshifters in this uinverse that, I must admit, I had never thought to ask. But it's a good one, and I'm glad Liu brought it into the series. It will be interesting to see what happens between the shifters and the chimera in the future.

I'm really glad I did stick with this series. This was an excellent story with really enjoyable characters and I find myself really looking forward to the next one. Jul 26, Betty-Anne added it. I received Marjorie M. In general, I am not a romance reader, with the exception of paranormal romance, and even so, there are only two authors I like and whose series I follow. That number has now grown to three. The Fire King pairs Karr, a three thousand year old shape-shifter with a twist and Soria, a maimed human with an innate gift for languages.

What they have in common is a painful past. Karr also has a t I received Marjorie M. Karr also has a threatened future but to even achieve it, he must first discover the secrets of his past.

The Fire King A Dirk & Steele Novel Dirk & Steele Series

I truly enjoyed this book for several reasons. Their motivations, actions and responses are credible and described with a clarity that indicates that their author invested much effort in knowing the characters she writes — no cardboard cutouts here. Also refreshing and unusual for the genre, is that her characters are not so ethereally physically beautiful that they come across as plastic.

This extends from her main characters right through to her villains and supporting characters. I was able to see her characters vividly in my mind and this was very much due to the lucidity with which they were drawn. The background history, along with the nature and origin of the conflict was also credible and well handled. The action was exciting and held my interest. The romantic interaction was developed naturally with the storyline, and there were no gratuitous physical encounters.

Overall though, this was a wonderful example of the genre and should be a favorite of readers already acquainted with the series, as well as first time readers. Of course I now plan to read all of Ms. Aug 28, Cecilia Quick rated it liked it. This was my first Marjorie Liu book, and I liked it enough to read more, but not enough to keep. I loved the premise-an ancient tomb is discovered and inside is a chimera, who is still alive after thousands of years.

The heroine was unique and fully realized-I liked that she was disfigured, with only one arm, and was more mature and haunted than the average paranormal romance heroine. The hero was intriguing, although more one note than the heroine. The book started off with a bang, and I raced This was my first Marjorie Liu book, and I liked it enough to read more, but not enough to keep.

The book started off with a bang, and I raced through the beginning. It really bogged down in the middle, when Karr and Soria begin their quest into Karr's background. This section felt like filler.

It took too long for them to realize they loved each other. And why weren't Karr's injuries tended to? And couldn't Soria have kept some track pants for him in a backpack or something? Even warlords want to protect their boy bits from attack. The sex was a letdown.

Sniper: The Hunt for the Killers Who Terrorized the Nation.
Each Moment Is the Universe: Zen and the Way of Being Time?
Get A Copy;
Book 9 – The Fire King.
;
The Fire King (Dirk & Steele, #9) by Marjorie M. Liu.

I don't mind no sex, or even sex not being described but being implied, but if there's going to be a sex scene, I want it to be mind blowing. Here, it was incomplete, and unrewarding. Also, the end felt rushed and didn't explain enough. What was the dragon's goal, besides going after Tau? She was actually a really interesting character, though. And besides hiding, what else do the chimera do? Do they have a civilization of any sort? And the final battle felt too short.

My biggest gripe is that Soria was furious at how Roland treats Karr, but there was no confrontation about it and that subplot was just dropped, which made the story feel incomplete. Sep 15, Paranormal Romance rated it really liked it Shelves: An abomination in the eyes of other shifters the male is Chimera, born of two shifter species and hunted for it. They have a mental instability that causes them to snap without warning and after such a spell, the man realizes he's killed his friends woman.

So he committed suicide only to wake years in the future and kidnapped by modern day shifters.

The heroine can speak and understand any language so she's sent in to determine if he's a threat or not. She's been through a horrible trauma t An abomination in the eyes of other shifters the male is Chimera, born of two shifter species and hunted for it. She's been through a horrible trauma that cost her her arm but although she's tortured with self conscious and lingering pain in the stump she's strong and intelligent and a survivor. She saves the male though it's very clear he doesn't trust her and together they go in search of his people. The book was very nice, as all of Marjorie books are.

The characters started out as enemies, then partners. Then the became friends before finally turning into lovers. The evolution of their love was believable. With them gradually beginning to respect one another and not tossing out words like love or romance prematurely. It was nice to see that as I find sometimes characters fall in love far too quickly and therefore cheapen the romance somehow. Marvelous addition to a stellar series.

Oct 24, Gina Briganti rated it really liked it. I loved the couple, Soria and Karr. One thing about Liu's couples that I like is that they are somehow matched by their experience so that they value one another in a way that another mate would not. The lore of shapeshifters and chimera's is filled in more with this book, which I truly enjoyed reading. Nine novels into a series is a challenging number for an author, in my humble opinion. Liu leaped over those challenges with her engaging characters, her unending imagination, and the promise of more great books to come.

Jul 22, Renee Sweet rated it really liked it. I particularly loved these characters--their special powers and their weaknesses. And the opening to this book is to repeat myself another favorite. It made me want to be a better writer myself. Nov 26, Natalie rated it really liked it. I really liked this. I'll be sure to look for more by her. When she is chosen to learn the dead language of a shape-shifter resurrected after thousands of years of icy sleep, she discovers a warrior consumed with fury.

Strong as a lion, quick as a serpent—Karr is his name, and in his day he was king. But he is a son of strife, a creature of tragedy. As fire consumed all he loved, so death was to be his atonement. Now, against his will, he has awoken. Read an excerpt on her website as well! She has a talent for being able to speak any language. How cool is that!?

Karr is a mystical shape shifting creature that is awoken from a tomb he was buried alive in many, many years ago. He is captured and imprisoned until someone able to speak his language is found. Soria is able to speak to Karr and she finds a way to form a bond with the enormous, dangerous creature he houses inside. Together they escape and are on the runs for their lives.

A sandstorm scene was pretty intense. Marjorie knows her stuff! Since the main character was a linguist and I did read that Marjorie too studied languages there was a ton of references to those foreign languages. The entire book flowed very well. There was a large portion of this book dedicated to action scenes. The detail shown to the shifters was awesome. And writing the main character as having only one arm? It was a major distraction and I wish the reader would have found out about that a bit sooner.

I had my doubts in the beginning when I first learned that she was missing an arm. Her story behind the lose of her arm is horrific. Her ability to speak to Karr was awesome! Karr is just wow. The fact that no one but Soria can understand his language forces him to ally with her. It was the best decision he makes. They make an awesome team together. Karr is strong, intelligent, and an intense warrior.

The attraction between Soria and Karr builds over the course of the book. It is not the reason for the book but rather a subplot and it happens very naturally. It fit for their situation but it could have been so much better. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction.
More by Marjorie Liu;
The Great Ramirez (Tales of the Star Force Book 5)?

Mostly because I saw the attraction between the two main characters and wanted to see them together. Plus, their adventure was very cool. Karr was such a sweet and protective alpha male and Soria was strong but not bitchy or overbearing. They were a perfect couple. His face is just too round and fleshy.

The lion, sand, and the side mountain houses fit perfectly with the subject of the book. Sep 06, Deborah Necessary rated it liked it.