Emelan Bookclub: Cold Fire

[Rachy]

Our bookclub for July is Cold Fire.

Blurb: Daja and Frostpine expect to have a peaceful winter's visit with old friends in Kugisko, a port in the vast empire of Namon. But there is no peace when mysterious fires begin to blaze across the vulnerable city. Daja assists Bennat Ladradun, a local firefighter with a tragic past, to fight the flames. The two become fast friends-until they realize the fires have been deliberately set, and their relationship is deeply tested. Daja's magic helps her track down the firestarter, but no magic can protect her or Ben from the effects of madness and betrayal.

What do you think of Nia, Jory and our first glimpse of Namorn? How do you feel about Ben?

[devilinthedetails]

Just finished re-reading Cold Fire. I enjoyed the trip to Kugisko, which sort of reminded me of a cross between Nordic countries, Russia, and even the Netherlands with skating as a means of travel in the winter and the emphasis on trading. The culture felt vividly drawn with the wooden architecture with distinctive paintings and carvings and details about how they drink their tea with things like sugar cubes in their mouths. I also just like winter imagery with sleigh rides and snow.

Bennat was a quite chilling portrayal of a sociopath serial killer. The details of his obsession with fire, his disregard for others' lives, his need for attention, and his idea that he is teaching valuable "lessons" are realistically done as is his tendency to keep trophies as it were of the fires he had set. Daja's dawning suspicions feel right, too. The reader obviously knows and suspects sooner, but it makes sense that she would be slow to doubt her friend's intentions.

I wasn't really a fan of Jory and Nia. I found them a bit obnoxious, much more so than Pasco or Evvy (whom I very much enjoyed as a character). I can't exactly put a finger on what irked me about them but nevertheless something did.