Breath of Fire

Written by Amanda Bouchet

Narrated by Mia Barron

I am Catalia Fisa, and I do not break

Deep breath in. Long breath out. The Gods are telling me I’m some sort of new Origin, which apparently means it’s my job to give Thalyria a fresh start. Griffin crowned me with the symbols of the three realms.

If I’m supposed to be not just a queen but the Queen, I’d better start acting like it.

"Bouchet sets the bar for high-concept fantasy romance. Simply brilliant."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book 2017!
An Amazon Best Book of 2017!
A USA Today bestseller!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781501940750

Amanda Bouchet

Amanda Bouchet is a USA Today bestselling author of Fantasy Romance and Sci-fi Romance. She was a Goodreads Choice Awards top 10 finalist for Best Debut in 2016. For more about Amanda’s books with equal parts adventure and kissing, connect with her at www.amandabouchet.com.

Reviews for Breath of Fire

[Annie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Where to start. I wanted to like this more then I actually did. I almost put the book down in the 1st 2 chapters. The way it starts was just unbelievable. Griffin throws a full blown temper tantrum. Utterly destroying his room with a sword while Cat had to sit there and watch. You heard me right a sword. To start the fight off shes naked so what does he do why ripes her sheet away from her. Because that isnt emotional abuse. Being looked down on while your huddled trying to hide your goods. Then after this extreme fight in which he also shakes her and grabs her so hard he leaves bruises (in my book that's physical abuse), He looks at her in disgust and says "I cant be with you" and walks out the door. This is all after he finds out a truth about her. A truth which he knew she was hiding and she said she would tell him about later So what's a poor girl to do when you cant leave a castle. Why run away to her old room of course and cry with a broken heart. Enter the next chapter where he comes barreling in to her old room after looking for her for 1 1/2 days telling her she didn't understand him. He meant he couldnt be with her right then bc he was so mad he was afraid he would hurt her. WHAT THE HELL, THAT IS NOT LOVE. IF THATS THE KIND OF LOVE YOU HAVE IT IS ABUSIVE BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. so this poor twat FREAKING APOLOGIZES to him!!!!
So the start of the book needless to say didnt start well for me. The rest of the book is sex. Seriously sex and dying. I lost count how many times this girl practically kills herself. But the sex scenes….. This is how the rest of the book felt to me: sex scene, violence, more sex, violence again with a little almost dead thrown in, sex scene (the same sex scene over and over just different places). It also really bothered me that they had sex just feet away from his Beta team at least twice that I can recall. The same men who left family and people they love behind to follow this hothead and alpha jerk so they can become king and queen. It was so self centered.
I felt no growth in the characters, no depth. The only character I feel we get to know better (except for Jocosta but to be fair we hardly know anything about her to begin with so any info helps with the character) is Kato. Because of this he becomes a favorite character of mine. Hes witty and brave, kind and patient. All things Griffin is not. Theres a scene with him that almost breaks your heart. He was the redeeming part of this book to me and isnt that sad that hes not the lead.

[Melina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 Stars

The adventure and romance continues in book 2 of the Kingmaker Chronicles. The beginning was a bit bumpy but I kinda expected the big reveal and figured it would not go over well.

Aside from that, this story is more focused on several missions and there's more development of several characters. I'm a fan of the main protagonist (Cat) and her overbearing, ultra alpha partner (Griffin). I was glad to see a little more of the secondary characters (Jocasta, Carver, Flynn, and Kato). Hopefully we get to see more of them in the next and final book.

[Kayla Pratt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I feel like I understand the significance of what's happening more this time than the first time I listened to this. It's definitely massive.

5 stars

[tornadox-962417 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good sequel, there is at least one more book in the series. Plot and characters kept my interest. Lots of sexy times.

I love how it incorporates Greek mythology into a European medieval fantasy world with a thoughtful racial makeup.

[kevn57-163679 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars
This started out kinda slow but when the quest started the pace really picked up, and then it kicked into overdrive once the Agon Games began. The final battle and finding out Cat is pregnant was the capper. It seems that the Gods truely are on their side as the final round of the games show when they were gifted with the trident and when Cerberus showed up for the fight against Galen.
Now I'm looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have relationship problems with this book. The two main characters; Catalia Fisa and Griffin have a lot of sexual tension but they don't seem to have a lot of conversations going on about them. It left me feeling a little uneasy with them when Griffin wrecked the room around her with a sword and she ran away to her former rooms to escape this anger. I can't blame her. Griffin shaggs his way to forgiveness. It just made me feel uneasy that they really hadn't dealt properly with the problem, just glossed over it.And that's the problem I had with the story, glossing over the aftereffects of what happens to people. It was readable and I really wanted the characters to succeed. I'm vaguely curious about the conclusion.

[libgirl69 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Better written, not bad but driven by the need to write up 'quests'.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was AWFUL. Dnf. It opens with the romantic lead completely losing his mind with rage, to the point where he hurts the main character, destroys the bedroom, and then hacks at their bed with his actual sword until it's little more than kindling. And then! He tells her he can't be with her and stalks off even though she _physically cannot leave him_ because (in the prior book) he manipulated her into making a magic vow.

So she leaves the palace, goes to her old room in the barracks, sleeps for a day and a half, and then he bursts in, all apologetic and tells her she MISUNDERSTOOD. I went back and reread it--there was nothing to misunderstand.

Anyway, then they have sex and he gets her to say that she belongs with him. I just cannot with this book. I pushed through an additional hundred pages, but there's really no point. It doesn't get as bad as that opening, but it doesn't get much better, either.

Do not recommend.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cat has mostly given up running from her destiny since she has fallen in love with Griffin, Beta Sinta. She is reluctant to tell him that prophecy says she is the Harbinger who will bring about destruction or the world. When she does, he isn't dismayed. After all, it is his goal to dismantle the current political structure of the world and make it better for everyone. Before things can be better, she and Griffin need to defeat the rulers of Tarvan and Fisa. They travel to the Ice Plains to gain magical help and Cat goes through all sorts of hardships. They also travel to Tarvan and take part in a to-the-death tournament. The action was fast-paced. Cat learns a lot more about her magical abilities and how much the gods are supporting her efforts. I like the world building in this series. The magic and the magical creatures add all sorts of interest to the story. I also like the relationship between Griffin and Cat.

[treehousereader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD... BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a warrior queen to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world—for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin risk sacrificing everything they've fought for. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or die trying.The Kingmaker Chronicles: A Promise of Fire (Book 1) Breath of Fire (Book 2) Heart on Fire (Book 3, coming Fall 2017)

[urph818 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Breath of Fire, the second book in Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles, is certainly not a stand alone book and begins where book one ended. So if you haven't read book one, A Promise of Fire, you should read it first. (Believe me, you will enjoy book 1 as much as I did) . This series, with it's heavy doses of mythology, is told in the first person, but the book is such that you won't want to put it down. I had a little bit of an issue with Griffin's destructive violence of destroying every piece of furniture in their bedroom when he finds out Cat's real identify that she failed to tell him. However, it's an indication of the quality of the story and Amanda Bouchet's great character development and her world building elements that allowed me to overlook this issue of domestic violence. In this book, we see Cat's growing acceptance of both her fate and Griffin's feelings for her. We see Griffin's view of their roles shift as he comes to realize and accept Cat's destiny to reunite the realms, (with direct help from a number of the Gods) by completing challenging quests, battling mythical beasts, and winning fierce competitions. (Wow is all that I can say without giving the story line away completely.) This book grabbed my interest from the start and I still haven't lost it,so. I'm anxious to read the next book in this series.Jack Murphy

[shiinale · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

If I could give this 0 stars I would. I LOVED promise of fire. Absolutely loved it. I loved Cat and Griffin. I LOVED the sexual tension between them. I loved their bickering, their care and love for each other, and their protectiveness of each other and those around them. Unfortunately none of that is in the second book. Though I can't really rate this accurately because I couldn't get past the 5th chapter. What was once an enjoyable dynamic, turned sour and frustrating. Cat used to be so amazing! She was smart, funny, and kick ass. I don't know what the hell happened between the end of the first book and the beginning of the second but it was the worst thing to ever happen to my once favorite couple. She becomes submissive and just plain dull. I really wanted to continue the series because I loved the first book so much. But unfortunately there was so much wrong (in just the first five chapters!) of the book that I will no longer continue the series. Too much sex. Not enough kickass Cat. one of the most annoying parts of this book (again I only made it partway through chapter 5) was the fact that Cat just BLURTED out all of her secrets to Griffin's family. Yes I understand she wuvs him and would do anything for him but it just doesn't make any sense! She swore team beta to secrecy, kept her secrets from her friends at the circus for 8 years, and then all of a sudden threw caution to the wind?! Ugh no! There's so much wrong with what happened to the characters between books 1 and 2 that it almost seems as if it was written by an entirely different person! I'm going to pretend book 1 was a standalone because I freaking just loved those characters so much. Sigh. Will not be continuing the series.

[theyodamom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am so confused, this had so little resemblance to the first book's characters. I'm going to rant. I am so disappointed I pushed this series onto all my friends.What Didn't work for me- The first half of the book.The first chapter set the story was a bitter pill for me. It was a horrible misrepresentation of these characters that I grew to love in book 1. It was hard to feel the love they had developed over a great time. How can I witness such nastiness/abuse and just accept it was okay ? What happened to her backbone, his respect ? I had thought there had to be a curse on them, changing them so completely. No. The scene made no sense, it did not develop the story in any way it was just thrown there.Sex, I like sex, I like my characters to have fun sex. These strong characters were demoted to emotionally immature rabid rutting rabbits. They couldn't just hold hands, hug or make eye contact without rut rut rutting. Was the rutting sexy ? Maybe a couple of times but most was just "BADDA BADDA BING, oh me so horny, need you right now" no matter where or what was happening. It wasn't connecting, it distanced them from my care center. I started dreading hearing how her core was hot, wet, clenching....OH my gods aren't you sore yet ?What happened ? I picked the first book as my #1 new author read of the year. There was a perfect balance it flowed. The book felt like it was written but somebody felt the need to throw sex in here there everywhere to make it sell ? Again- They didn't or feel natural to the story. I could have not read the first half and not missed much.What worked- The last 1/4 of the book was action filled with the characters I grew to love. They had a job to do and they worked at it, bleed for it. The second half had some adventure, discoveries and godly gods of old. The side characters started to come back as the snarky fellows I grew to love. The ending was expected but it worked.I'm giving it 3 stars for the second half of the story. Will I go on to book 3 ? I think so, it's not a sure thing right now.

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Explosive action and romance!Talk about clash of the titans! This second in the Kingmaker Chronicles has it all. Greek gods and goddesses, a love story that keeps on giving, and monsters out of legends.Cat (Catalia Fisa), warrior and Kingmaker, is still fleeing from her destiny and as usual just ends up tumbling towards it at breakneck speed, despite her avowed reluctance (but then that seems to be Cat--she falls from one situation into another within the blink of an eyelid.) She's still fleeing from her mother and determined to stay with Griffin--after all she bound herself to him magically. Still being confronted magically by her mother and hurt every time--physically and emotionally.What with crossing the Ice Plains, confronting a Chaos Wizard, obtaining doubtful god given gifts (be careful what you wish for!), facing off various trials in a monstrous labrynth, and facing the Hydra! The tension just keeps escalating!But when Cat and Griffin hatch a plot to overcome the neighbouring king, the action shifts up to a whole new and explosive pitch!And I haven't even mentioned the way Cat and Griffin's relationship keeps growing, despite Cat's many misgivings. Her deep passion for Griffin is splendid.A NetGalley ARC

[stacyatufi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I fell in love with the Kingmaker Chronicles while reading A PROMISE OF FIRE, BREATH OF FIRE would have had to be pretty awful for me to not like the series anymore. BREATH OF FIRE was NOT awful and in fact was just as engaging, adventurous and action packed as book 1!The beginning chapter just about broke my heart, but it didn't last long and my heart was mended in time for Cat's next adventure. We didn't know a whole lot about Cat when we started reading PROMISE OF FIRE. Her past was slowly revealed and by the end you know who she is. BREATH OF FIRE continues to reveal things about her. There is still a little bit of mystery to her, but I felt like I really knew her by the end of BREATH OF FIRE. Cat and Griffin's relationship has grown a lot the past two books, but again, BREATH OF FIRE brought them to an even higher level. They truly work as a team and have each others backs at every turn. I also love the relationship that Cat has with Griffin's family and friends. They have become her family and friends and it really shows in every interaction and situation. Amanda Bouchet did a phenomenal job in making the supporting characters just as important to the story.If you loved the action in A PROMISE OF FIRE, you will love it in BREATH OF FIRE. Lots of adventure and danger at every turn forcing the characters to fight for survival. The ending was epic. I didn't want to put the book down the entire time I was reading and the ending made me want the next book even more. There is going to be one heck of a showdown ahead and I will be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on book three!* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[dlynch-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amanda Bouchet’s BREATH OF FIRE is a thrilling addition to the Kingmaker Chronicles. Catalia Fisa and Griffin continue their adventure to unifying the realms. This mythological fantasy is suitable for new adult audiences. I loved this story. Amanda Bouchet does an amazing job with both her character development and plot. She is extremely creative and does an incredible job with visualization in the story. Cat is a wonderful heroine. She is the runaway princess, Beta to the Fisan line. She is powerful and clever. She is concerned about her prophecy thinking the worst, instead of the possible positive outcome. I love Griffin. He is brave and idealistic. He cares about his people. Due to their very different upbringings, Cat and Griffin have some epic misunderstanding. However, the two have amazing chemistry and rule well together.I really enjoyed the plot. I love the mythological aspect of the story. Their visit to the Ice Plains and to see the Chaos Wizard was entertaining. I thought their entering the Agon Games was creative. The story had a sort of gladiator/Hunger Games feel. BREATH OF FIRE was full of action and suspense. It had exciting twists. I would love to see The Kingmaker Chronicles turned into movies. I cannot wait for the next book, HEART ON FIRE. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is just my kind of book! This one really has it everything from excellent characters to an exciting plot that rarely slows down. I am loving this new fantasy romance series and already know that this is a book that I will most likely read again. This book picks up right where the first book, A Promise of Fire, leaves off so you really do want to read this series in order. From the moment I finished the first book, I couldn't wait to start reading the second one and it lived up to my expectations.All of Cat's secrets are revealed at the start of the story and it seems that everything she has feared is now coming true. Cat does have power and abilities unlike anyone else. To save and protect the people she cares about and the kingdom, Cat goes on a quest with Griffin, Carver, Flynn, and Kato where all of their lives will be in danger.This book started out with a really strong romance feel and I was a bit worried that the awesome fantasy of the first book was going to be overshadowed by romance. I had no need to worry because the fantasy in this book is quite strong. There really is a little bit of everything and the excitement never slowed down. I don't want to give any of the story away but as I sit here thinking about what happens in this book, I can't believe that it all fit in this single volume.The characters in this book are just wonderful. Cat is fierce and caring. She is brave and will sacrifice herself to keep others safe. Griffin is smart and tough. He will not let anything happen to Cat no matter what. We get the chance to know Kato, Carver, Flynn, and Jocasta better in this book and I grew to like them even more. Kato had a really important role in this book and my heart ached for him at times. The book was very well balance. It was filled with excitement and fantasy elements. The romance between Griffin and Cat is strong and their chemistry is still off the charts. There are a couple of secondary romances that are just starting to show promise in this book as well. There are moments in the story that I found rather funny as well and thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters. I would highly recommend this series to others. I think it is well crafted and highly entertaining. I can't wait to read more of the Kingmaker Chronicles.I received an advance reader copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.