Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
Where once there were three who were as close as brothers, now there is only one who remains in the land. Darach Gravenor is a keeper of blue Fire. He is alone in his world because one of them, Eoin, died consumed by his amber fire. Kian, the second of them has fled to Earth, forever out of reach. All Darach can think of is to follow Kian to the Other World now that Darach is older and able to rescue his friend. But to accomplish this impossible mission, Darach needs help and from the one people he has always been told were horrors unto themselves and banned from his city. But Darach knows that a Cariad has crept into their city and been captured. Now all he has to do is rescue the Cariad and get him to help Darach travel to the Other World.
Ceithin Morgan’s brother Trystan was a wielder of the amber fire, and that was reason alone for someone to kidnap and kill his beloved brother. Ceithin seeks answers and revenge upon those who killed Trystan, answers he believes he can find within the forbidden city. Ceithin is a member of the Cariad, a nomadic tribe still connected to the old magic. Captured and tortured for his power, the last thing he expects is to be rescued by Darach.
Both men are on a mission to find theirs to their lost brothers. Unexpectedly, their journey and missions find themselves bound them to each other in a way neither could have predicted. Then they come upon some shocking information, and the search that will bring them both to the Other World and Kian. Soon it’s not just one world but two worlds that need saving….
Darach’s Cariad is the second story in The Fire Trilogy by RJ Scott. Scott continues to build her universe and complicated mythology needed for her Fire lore and trilogy structure. There are three fire powers. Green fire which has the qualities of nature, nuture, and protection. Blue Fire which gives its user the power over water, and finally Gold or Amber Fire, the rarest, most powerful of them all. Amber fire is used to rule. But those born with amber fire are few and they have a tendency to disappear shortly after coming into their powers, a mystery that acts as another primary plot thread throughout all the stories.
I loved the world building here. We start back on Earth (the Other World) with Regan and Kian from the first story in the trilogy, Kian’s Hunter. Immediately we know that things and Kian’s health have gotten worse. For those readers not familiar with the first story, this chapter provides enough information on their story and a tantalizing glimpse into the relationship between Regan and Kian. From there we are transported back to the City, the ruling Council, and the dungeons with its one despairing occupant. I loved all the various storylines, layered one on top of the other, and soon, to flow into one central plot that will pull all three books together, along with their characters.
Scott skillfully builds her larger trilogy leitmotif, first in small clues and facts scattered throughout the first part of the story, then gathering momentum as the characters themselves start to pool all their knowledge to arrive at a horrific and shocking revelation. It helps immensely that we are drawn to the complex characters as much as the characters are mesmerized by each other. Darach is a wonderful combination of youthful confidence and need. We get his measure and strength immediately and love him for it. Ceithin Morgan on the other hand is full of arrogance and pain, a member of the Cariad, a gypsy like clan that are the keepers of the old magic and gateway to the Other World. The Cariad are as fascinating a tribe as all the other engrossing elements that Scott has created here. The fire of attraction that ignites between them is hot and sexy and layered over with uncertainty.
There is so much information as to the world building and lore that it can sometimes confuse a reader unfamiliar with Kian’s Hunter, but never once will a little confusion make you want to put this story down. No, instead, once you have reached the end of this story, the only frustration will be at not having the final story to delve into. This trilogy is addicting and with the resolution just out of reach by the end of Darach’s Cariad, the reader will be left grasping at the clues and revelations that point to a rich, explosive final story. Don’t be surprised to find yourself heading back to the first story, Kian’s Hunter and begin the journey all over again while you wait for the final book to arrive.
If you are a lover of fantasy and romance, if the idea of different worlds or realms connected to each other by magical portals grab your imagination, this is the series for you. You can read Darach’s Cariad out of order but the trilogy is far richer if read in the order they were written. This is definitely a fantasy must read for all.
Cover artist: Meredith Russell. The fantasy element is minimal, with just a trace of fire at his hands. I could wish for a little more of the fantastical worlds that Scott has built for us.
Sales Links: Love Lane Books All Romance (ARe) amazon 
Book Details:
ebook, 133 pages
Published November 7th 2014 by Love Lane Books (first published January 1st 2011)
edition languageEnglish
url http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/new-cover-art-fire-trilogy.html
seriesThe Fire Trilogy #2
Books in The Fire Trilogy in the order they were written and should be read:
Kian’s Hunter (Fire, #1)
Darach (The Fire Trilogy #2)
Eoin (The Fire Trilogy #3)
The stories were previously published at Silver Publishing, but have been revised prior to their re release.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
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