Book Log 3/2013 - Kristen Callihan: Firelight – Darkest London #1

[jacey]

Miranda is a firestarter whose accidental spawning of a warehouse fire in her childhood ruined her merchant father's finances and he has forced her into a life of thievery to deflect creditors. She comes to the notice of Lord Archer, London's most nefarious nobleman who covers a mysterious disfigurement behind a full-face mask. When her father's fortunes are at their lowest ebb Archer makes an offer no one can refuse and Miranda is 'sold' to him in marriage, though she quickly finds this much to her liking.

Frightened of rejection Miranda hides her fire-starting talents from her new husband even though she's often in danger of causing a conflagration, but he's equally secretive which leads to inevitable misunderstandings - a Regency Romance type trope. The two main characters could have solved a lot of problems before things got dire between them if only they'd trusted each other and talked.

There's not much consummation at first, though there's plenty of passion and mystery. Archer's past is coming back to haunt him. Someone is murdering his former associates and Archer himself is under suspicion. Miranda doesn't believe him guilty and sets out to prove it, getting into various scrapes and finally putting herself in danger from his magical ancient enemy.

Though the setting is late Victorian it often feels much earlier. In fact one of its flaws is that it doesn't quite seem to pin down the period. Though we have plenty of stinky back alleys, it doesn't feel quite modern enough for late Victorian London. It's much more Georgette Heyer with supernatural elements than it is Conan Doyle. For instance it talks about 'the ton' in Regency terms. Although I believe the term persisted into the late 19th century we're so used to hearing it in a Regency context that it felt wrong here. But despite my historical misgivings the mystery is handled well. The pacing feels spot-on. Elements are teased out organically and we only find out about Archer's condition, and what caused it, as Miranda does.

This is fast-paced and brimming with sexual tension. It's a quick read and a real page-turner even though you want to bang Archer and Miranda's heads together a couple of times. There's a very real threat-level and Callihan makes you care about the characters. Worth a read.

Comments

[inamac.livejournal.com]

One of the major problems I have with US authors writing British-set novels is the frequent choice of the wrong names for the characters (and occasionally for the locales) - I don't think I could manage a non-humourous novel involving Lord Archer and Miranda Hart, the mental images are not at all what the writer intended.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Agreed. This was more of a 'feel' thing about the period misalignment. All the 'lords' were made up ones that didn't quite ring true, and despite it being late Victorian there was never any mention of omnibuses or railways or industry, just a few fetid back alleys. Definitely more late 1700s, early 1800s than 1880 - 1890. But despite that I enjoyed the read even though it was a bit of froth, it was quick, enjoyable, undemanding froth and I was in the right mood for it.

[del-c.livejournal.com]

A lot of writers seem to both treat 19th century London as "all one thing", and then lump centuries as far back as the 17th into that one thing.

This was a visual problem I had with the opening scenes of the Dr Who Christmas special this year; the pub Clara works in, supposdely around 1892, and the clothes she wears, she could as easily have been Nell Gwynne as a citizen of the shiny gaslit, frosted-glass, lacquer and brass white heat of the last decade before the 20th century. The pub is Tudor wood-frame-and-plaster, the tables are dull benches, the lighting is drippy candles, and the drinking vessels look like pewter tankards. It's just an unfocused smear of Olde Englande, without any sense of the decade.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Agreed in general, Olde Englande seems to encompass everything from late medieval to gas lighting. Though I confess I did manage to suspend disbelief for Dr Who since Tudor wood frame and plaster buildings still survive today, and being a folkie I see plenty of pewter tankards still in use. To be honest I noticed the medieval building, but I didn't actually notice the candles. The dress was a bit Victorian Music Hall - a bit too flashy for everyday wear.