"A delightful erotic romance"

Trina was a slave, forced to do the bidding of a powerful sorceress, Kalidah. She had been bought as a young girl, and was kept to perform menial chores and labor for her mistress, while learning the few minor spells she was permitted. What she doesn't know is that she herself has a bit of magick in her soul, not that she had ever been given leave to develop it. Then one day as she is gazing into the fire, she unwittingly casts a powerful spell, introducing her to a whole new world, that of the fire spirits.

She can never let her mistress know, and one day her fate is decided for her. Kalidah is set to sacrifice her young slave to a powerful demon, in order to harness its powers for own selfish desires. When her plan backfires, Trina is given her freedom, and finds a new passion for life, in the form of the mysterious Brand, who appears out of nowhere to assist her in beginning her new life... and awakening burning desires Trina never knew existed.

Trina is on her quest to find her family, and her history, with the help of some friends she meets along the way. All the while on her quest for her family, she is also on a different quest... to explore these passions and erotic fantasies she has suddenly been enlightened to discover.

This is quite an interesting read. Who could have ever dreamed up a world of flame spirits, dancing in the hearths of the ordinary people? Ms. Midnight takes something that seems so ordinary, simple fire, and delves into a whole new world. The passion between Trina and Flame burns brightly, never wavering, even in the light of dangers stalking Trina as she continues her journey of discovery. If one is looking for an erotic foray into another world or alternate reality, this is the book to read. One will never see fire in the same light again after finishing this one.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2002. All rights reserved.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted November 2, 2003

Summary

A Dark Ages erotic fantasy.

Kept as a lowly slave by Kalidah, an old sorceress, Trina learns only what little healing and magic her mistress sees fit to teach her. Her past is a mystery, except that Trina knows "Baraka," as the sorceress calls her, is not her real name. Trina is ignorant of the outside world. She has been warned to keep to herself. The villagers shun her or toss stones at her.

In the early hours of a frigid morning, Trina huddles beside the hearth and stares into the fire. Suddenly, she is able to make out small images, resembling tiny humans, amongst the flames. The "flame-folk" appear to be dancing on the coals, swaying to some mystical rhythm. Still staring into the hearth, Trina abruptly finds herself among them. Rather than being afraid, she embraces the heat that surrounds her. Stepping out and joining the flame-folk in their dance, Trina delights in the acceptance she finds from these spirits. She is drawn to one spirit in particular who shines brighter than the others.

When one of Kalidah's nefarious spells goes awry, that spirit, who calls himself Brand, is released into Trina's world in a mortal body. Brand is delighted to find, in the flesh, the mortal woman who so recently had danced the flames with him. When they are joined as one, he exalts in the myriad sensations of his new body. All too soon for Trina, Brand must return to the spirit realm, and she must leave to search for her family. Although she is now free, Trina must make her way into the world and does not know if she will ever see Brand again.

Brand finds himself joining Trina again and again in her travels, pulled by a bond between them that he doesn't understand. The two of them face danger and self-discovery in their quest to find a way to stay together.

Original release Dreams Unlimited - December 2000