by Lorie Lewis Ham

Details at the end of this post on how to win a copy of Flameout and links to purchase it.

Flameout is set in Melbourne, Australia and is the third book in the Souls of Fire series by Keri Arthur. There is a plague in the city called the Crimson Death which turns people into a new sort of vampire/zombie type creature called Red Cloaks. Most of those infected become a part of a hive that is run by someone from Emberly Pearson’s past–the brother of her former love Sam.

Emberly Pearson is a phoenix and in the first book she found herself suddenly in the middle of the quest for a cure for this virus. Several different factions are in search of some missing notes from scientists who were studying the virus before they disappeared and one of the scientists was Emberly’s boss, so everyone is certain that she knows where to find his notes–which she doesn’t. To make her life even more complicated, this also brings her former love back in to her life–and it is not a happy reunion. Sam is part of a government agency called PIT (Paranormal Investigations Team) who deals with the supernatural. PIT is among those seeking those lost notes and a cure, and Sam is one of the few infected who has maintained control.

Along the way Emberly teamed up with a fire fae private investigator named Jackson Miller, and they now have their own private investigation agency. While trying to find the missing notes, they also find themselves constantly fighting for their lives and making some very tenuous and dangerous partnerships.

Not only is Emberly running for her life and trying to find the notes, she also has to deal with a growing attachment to Jackson, and her own feelings for Sam. A phoenix lives many lifetimes and they are fated to love one person in each lifetime, sadly this lifetime was Sam who broke up with her when he found out what she was and about her phoenix partner Rory who she has to sleep with to recharge her fire. She also lives with Rory because if anything happens to them only the other one can bring them back for their next life. Sharing Emberly with Rory was not something Sam was willing to do no matter the reasons.

I love Keri Arthur’s writing, and books that mix mystery with fantasy are my absolute favorites–Flameout does this very well. The investigation is filled with tense moments and excitement and we do move a little closer to a conclusion in this book, though the story is definitely not done yet. The dialogue between Emberly, Jackson, and Rory is witty and fun even in the midst of serious danger. They also have this wonderful chemistry. Emberly’s scenes with Sam are sad and tense, but honestly I wish she could just be with Jackson and leave the brooding Sam behind.

I don’t recall the werewolf pack being in the past two books, but they make a nice addition to this one and I hope to see more of them. Another new twist in this book are witches–three of which are kidnapped. Jackson and Emberly are hired to find them and they soon find out that this too ties in to the virus and Sam’s brother Luke. Emberly also pays a terrible price at the end of this book–one I’m sure will make her even more determined to stop Luke and the Crimson Death.

Flameout has action, great characters, mystery, fantasy, and pretty much anything you could ask for! Be warned that Phoenix’s recharge through sex so there is quite a bit of that in these books. It was more graphic than I’m used to reading, but the book was awesome and well worth skimming past that to get to the rest. I have also enjoyed getting to know more of the Phoenix lore.

I can’t wait for the next book and I highly recommend you read the first two before this one–so run out and get all three right now! If you love fantasy and mystery they are a must have! Check out KRL’s reviews of Fireborn and Wicked Embers.

To enter to win a copy of Flameout, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “flameout,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 20, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

Check out more fantasy book reviews in our fantasy and fangs section.

Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Flameout

You can also use this link to purchase the book from Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and an enthusiastic contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet.