Fires of Hatred by Erin O’Kane – A Book Review

Posted August 13, 2020 by Booksandblurbs in Fantasy, Reverse Harem, Reviews / 0 Comments

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Fires of Hatred

(The War and Deceit Series – Book 1)

by Erin O’Kane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantasy, Slow Burn RH
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down & Dirty

This gorgeous cover hides a unique Fantasy Reverse Harem set in a world ravaged by war and horror. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

‘My name is 625.
At least, that’s the number branded into my skin, the only identity I have.
My real name, whatever it was, was stripped from me when I was sold into slavery at age eight.
I am now 20, and no more than property, my only purpose working in the palace.
Until the day I meet him.’

The Elves and Humans have been at war for millennia.
No one even remembers why or how it started.
When a slave girl is sent to clean in a forbidden part of the castle, she stumbles across a secret which could cost her life.
A captured Elf, sworn enemy of the Human people, forced into making Elven weaponry to fight against his own kin.

Will they see past the differences between their races and help each other to survive?

Or will their union only serve to stoke the fires of hatred?

Thoughts on Fires of Hatred

There is something melodic in the way this narrative is written, a soothing quality that almost drugs the plot with its subtly… until it reaches out a smacks you. As the first book in the series, this involves a lot of world building and history making, though it is delivered throughout the course of the tale, avoiding the dreaded info dump far too many books contain. Instead, there are moments when it feels like there isn’t ENOUGH information given, or explanations offered. Why do the Priests matter so much? How does one know and not the other? Perhaps a review isn’t the best place to put those questions, but you’ll understand when you read it.

I ended with questions, but a desire to know more about these characters and the world in which they reside. While the story itself didn’t blow me away, the set up is incredibly intriguing – you don’t really know who to trust, who to cheer or even why the world is run the way it is. There is enough foreshadowing dropped in Book 1 to carry the plot through several books, along with hints as to what, or who, 625 might really be…. though some of those clues feel like false trails.

I’ll admit, I am curious.

Perspective

First Person, Single POV

Ending Type

Cliffhanger

Rating

Meant for readers 18+, but could be read by older YA readers.

Romantic Dynamic

MMMF (I think?)

Character Age Range

20+

My Final Verdict on Fires of Hatred

This isn’t a perfect book, but there is enough going for it to hold attention and galvanize the plot forward. It is a fantasy world with different rules – and those rules make this story work. Free on Kindle Unlimited.