TEST
Can we be honest here? I gave up reading V.C. Andrews novels years ago, with no desire to start up again. All through Connie Flynn’s The Fire Opal, I kept thinking I was in the middle of one. Maybe it was the Louisiana location, maybe it was the swamp or secrets long kept, but through the whole thing, I kept thinking I was in V.C. Andrews mode. For me, the book just conjured up that kind of melodrama.
When Izzy’s (or Liz as she prefers to be called now) mother dies, she becomes guardian of the the Fire Opal. The Fire Opal is the means by which a devil-like monster, Le fantome noir, will be able to take over a human and rule the land in darkness. Liz Deveraux believes none of the superstitions with which she was raised. These superstitions caused her to run away from home and her first love, Zach Fortier. Now both she and Zach are back in town and about to battle with the phantom directly. Zach has issues with trusting Liz, and Liz has issues about her long kept secrets. Both have got to learn to really trust each other. For me, this where the problem begins.
I did not see these two truly grow and know and trust one another again. Everything seemed very much on the surface. Zach spent a lot of time taking nips from a flask and bemoaning the fact that Liz wasn’t his Izzy. . .but yes, she was. . .but no, she wasn’t. Oh God. . .stop whining already. Liz spent most of the book stoic. She never got to know Zach again. They smoldered for each other, but I didn’t see any true affection between the two. And, given that Zach spent three-quarters of the book half believing all the old superstitions, it was not believable when he turned his back on Liz and the beliefs when it really counted. This was an extreme about-face, and one out of character for him. I couldn’t get a handle on these characters, and, as such, never warmed up to them. As a result, the book fell flat for me.
Fire Opal was not entirely unlikeable. I enjoyed the premise of the story and I do love a Cajun setting. What I did like about Zach was that he was very human. He wasn’t a super hero, but actually had problems, and a bit of a pot belly. I enjoyed that the characters were slightly older too (thirty-something). And, I liked the mysticism surrounding the story and le fantome, and all the “help” they get. I like a story about redemption through love as well; I just felt that there was no build up to that part of the book.
But I consider myself lucky. . .no phantoms in my family tree.
Grade: C-
Book Type: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 17/09/98
Publication Date: 1998
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.