Night of Fire: The Ether Chronicles [Kindle Edition]

My Rating: 2.5 stars: Finished it - take it or leave it (C)

Our hero, Tom Knox, left his small coastal hometown of Thornville three years ago, leaving behind his love, Rosa Campos. He joined the service and has been fighting against the Hapsburg soldiers here on US soil - or in Tom's case, in the sky as an Upland Ranger. Before Tom left, he wasn't much of a hero or a man worthy of Rosa, and her parents were certain to remind him of that often. He returns now, uncertain of how he'll be received, yet certain that Rosa has settled down and moved on. To his surprise, Rosa is a changed woman - now the sheriff of Thornville, and she's never forgiven Tom for abandoning her those three long years ago.

Unfortunately, as soon as Tom arrives, there are serious problems for Thornville. The Crandall Mining Company, unhappy that no one would sell land in Thornville, is heading towards town in a massive monstrosity of a machine that destroys everything in its path. It's up to Tom and Rosa to overcome their past and work together to save the town.

Although this is the second story in The Ether Chronicles, the opening of Night of Fire is almost the complete opposite of the first book, Skies of Fire. Instead of jumping right into the action as in Skies, this book takes its time and introduces the reader to the surrounding landscape. We take a stroll down memory lane with Tom as he flies his way back to his childhood homestead and the woman he left behind. The beginning focuses on world-building and filling the reader in on the environment of the times.

Another change from the first book is that the locale has shifted from Europe to the United States in Night of Fire. The Army is warring with the Hapsburg troops (as they did in Skies), yet here in the US, there are no Men O' Wars or large airships. The culture is that of the "Wild West" and cowboys, complete with flying metal "horses" used to combat the foe. This book has a very different feel from Skies of Fire.

Yet even with the differences, the story still has similarities with its predecessor. Once again we have a hero and heroine that share a history - a love - that ended abruptly when one partner left. This time around it's the guy who ran away three years ago, instead of the girl. But that's about where the similarities end.

Although I'm not a big western-genre fan, I hoped the steampunk elements would supersede the wild west feel. At times the story did have the action and intrigue of a more traditional steampunk, yet at others, it was all whooping it up and cowboys. And while I felt the opening was strong and compelling, once the pair start their interactions with the mining company, the dialogue became flat and repetitive. The storyline held promise, but the voice it was written in just couldn't keep me glued to the pages.

I liked that Rosa was such a strong woman and could handle herself. I liked that Tom appreciated that in her and even found it sexy. I also enjoyed that they both recognized that their time apart (although it was painful), was the best thing for their relationship.

However, their one sex scene came across mechanical in style and didn't flow well for me. I also became annoyed with Tom and his constant jabs at and about Parker, the man he thought Rosa would marry. I wanted Rosa to punch him and tell him to get over it.

Overall, Night of Fire is an average book for me. It started out strong, and I found it intriguing. But all too soon, the story started to drag and felt repetitious. The high-intensity action was exciting for a while, but then started to grow old, and I found the insertion of serious relationship dialogue in the middle of fighting to be awkward. I had hoped for more after loving the first book, written by Zoe Archer. Knowing the next book is also written by her, I look forward to getting back to the Men O' Wars and the British navy.

The Ether Chronicles is a cooperative steampunk venture, or is that adventure, between writers (and real-life spouses) Zoe Archer and Nico Rosso.

The first book in the series, Skies of Fire, took place in more traditional steampunk territory, assuming there is such a thing as tradition when it comes to a genre as "new-fangled" as steampunk. It's set on the European side of this alternate, steam- and "ether"-powered world war and it's written by Ms. Archer, as will be the third book.

Mr. Rosso is responsible for Night of Fire, set in the U.S. West. Less traditional, not just for steampunk, but in general. The West of the late eighteenth century was the frontier, with wide-open spaces and people who didn't want to be hemmed in.

There's a war going on, and men are called away from their homes to fight against the Hapsburg enemy. Just as happened in real history, particularly in World War II, when the men are called away in large numbers, women fill roles that used to be reserved for men. And some of them find that their new roles suit them much better than the ones they would have traditionally found.

And some men think that this new assertiveness fits those women better than the old traditional roles ever did.

The Army has also given Tom Knox a new role in life. In Thornville, he was a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. The US Army has made him not just a soldier, but a leader. It's given him purpose and responsibility. The Army doesn't care where he came from, only how he conducts himself. And he's not a boy any more.

The war has brought him near enough to Thornville to visit. To find out what happened to the girl he left behind. Rosa Campos' father ran him out of town, said Tom wasn't good enough for his daughter. And he was right, then.

Now is different.

Now, Rosa is the Sheriff of Thornville. She's the only one man enough for the job, in spite of her father's protests. The first thing Tom sees when he rides back into town on his ether-powered "horse" is Rosa fighting off a band of roughnecks, who aren't just hooligans testing the "lady lawman".

They're the front for a completely different threat, one that's going to literally gobble up the entire town, if Tom and Rosa don't set aside three years of simmering resentments and disappointments and face the threat together, instead of fighting each other.

About that simmering...the fire they sparked between them before Tom left still burns as hot as ever, but they can't afford the distraction. Distraction will get them, and everyone around them killed.

But once they defeat their mutual enemy, if they survive, can they find any feelings left for each other beyond lust, disappointment and pain? Did they lose their chance at happiness by not fighting for it hard enough, all those years ago?

Escape Rating A-: There are three stories going on in Night of Fire, and all of them are terrific. One is the war, and for background on the war with the Hapsburgs, read Skies of Fire by Zoe Archer first. It's tremendous fun, especially if you love steampunk. The information on what ether and telumium (the mineral that makes it all possible) are is there.

The second story is the Western "save the town" story. The sheriff needs to fight off the evil mining corporation that planning to swallow up the good ranching land and the good ranching community. This tale stands the usual trope on its head by having the corporation plan to literally swallow the town. Only in SF or fantasy (or one of their cousins like steampunk)!

Third, of course, is the romance. Tom and Rosa are doing the second-chance dance. They loved before and war has given them another try. They've grown up; they weren't the people they were before. They didn't fight hard enough before, they weren't ready. This time, the stakes are much, much higher, but they're much stronger. But they've got a lot of internal resentments to overcome, as well as the obvious external forces arrayed against them. It's one hell of a fight.

And I wish the story had been a bit longer. This was an awful lot of stuff to pack into 100 pages. I loved it. I would have loved it more had there been a little more of it. Which means I can't wait for the next one.

Originally published at Reading Reality.

I always enjoy getting ahold of a book I can't put down, and Nightof Fire absolutely fit the bill! There were times that I actually caught myself holding my breath while reading! When was the last time that ever happened to you?
If you check you'll see that I don't do a lot of reviews, not because there's anything wrong with the book, but rather because I didn't think it was 'that' good.
This book, is THAT good, and blends nicely with other books in the Ether Chronicles, without over stating, or re-hashing, just honorably mentioned.

If your looking for some good entertainment inreading, you've found it here.