Rating: 4🌈
The Firedancer is my first dive into Rye Cox’s Black Cat Circus series, a paranormal world of outcasts that travel through worlds finding their true loves.
The setup is simple, the author establishes the characters and fundamentals of the series early on in the book, so even if the reader, like myself is new to the series, we understand setting of the circus and the concept of the story.
Coal, a Vermillion Bird, a fire being of ancient Chinese mythology. But his full background is slightly hidden under Coal’s painful personal history as a half human/half Fire Bird and what that meant for him growing up. I do wish that Rye had further explored his fiery magical powers, especially with regard to the mark on his chest. While what the author achieved was intriguing, the potential for something stunning was very real.
The same occurred with the great character of Rhett. Rhett is an engaging, warm, layered character. Of smaller stature, this human chef has the personality that invigorates each scene he appears in. From the food scenes to the awe in which he’s viewing the circus acts, we just connect to him. That includes the very realistic background that Cox has crafted for Rhett with a found father as a kid on his own.
The Ringmaster is suitably mysterious yet charming. The other circus performers/found family members are interesting and ones who will have stories of their own.
I enjoyed Rhett and Coal’s romantic journey together but as good as they are there’s so much potential for even more magical exploration of the fire that brings them together. As well as the nice twist that comes at the end of the book. Really needed more of this too.
A definite recommendation. But a wider range or more detailed explanations would have made this exceptional.
Cover Art: Coffin Print Designs
Black Cat Circus series:
The Daredevil #1
The Firedancer #2
The Aerialist #3
The Ringmaster #4
Buy link
Blurb
Coal was drawn to the circus after being driven out of the only home he knew. He was the outcast, the half-blood that shouldn’t have survived the fire that burned inside him. At Black Cat Circus, he finds a family of people just like him, of those who accept him just the way he is. However, the scars that were buried deep in his heart keep him from letting anyone get too close. He is fire, and he’s afraid of once again losing control of the thing that makes up the very essence of himself.
Rhett never knew his parents or had a family. Having grown up in foster care, he’s determined to find a place he can finally call home. When he sees the ad looking for a chef for a certain traveling circus, he’s compelled to apply despite never once having left the little town he grew up in. What he doesn’t expect is to find friends shrouded in mystery, and a beautiful man who burns so brightly but tries to dampen his flames.
The two can’t resist the mutual attraction, but are terrified of what it means to want more. When playing with fire, they must be careful or risk getting burned.
The Firedancer is a paranormal MM romance that features light temperature play, size difference, hurt/comfort themes, and learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin. It is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series that features found family and a magical cast of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed as a series.
- Publisher: (May 13, 2023)
- Publication date: May 13, 2023
- Language: English
- File size: 2710 KB
- Simultaneous device usage: Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
- Screen Reader: Supported
- Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
- X-Ray: Not Enabled
- Word Wise: Enabled
- Print length: 184 pages
— The Firedancer by Rye Cox
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 