A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Title: A Hidden Fire
Author: Elizabeth Hunter
Series: Elemental Mysteries #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: October 13, 2011
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 398
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 Bookish Resolutions DTTH, Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Winter
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mysterious manuscript he's hunted for over five hundred years. He never expected a young student librarian could be the key to unlock its secrets, nor could he have predicted the danger she would attract.

Now he and Beatrice De Novo follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, though the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation hundreds of years in the making.

My Review:

4.5 stars — You know when you’ve had a book for a long time, and you wonder if you’ll enjoy it after all this time?  Especially when it is an early indie book?  Well, NEVER FEAR!  I was immediately intrigued by the story, and before long I was completely sucked in and giving my hubby cranky eyes when he wanted to snuggle while I just wanted to finish the book…to be fair, I was at the damn climax!  And for your information, I snuggled…I snuggled like a boss.  With minimal complaining.

Anyways.  What a weird and wonderful world!  It had lots of elements that I’ve read before, but a lot of refreshing pieces as well.  I remember saying to my buddies that there were pieces that totally reminded me of Twilight, but the majority of it didn’t at all.  Or rather, even if it did, it was a grown up, more bloodthirsty Twilight.  And I really kind of loved it, having that adult flavour.  (But seriously, if you’re looking for a Twilight book, even an adult Twilight book, this is not a retelling or anything….I don’t want to misrepresent the story.  There were just tiny elements that reminded me (like the elevator conversation).)

Anyways…again.  We have 2 very complicated main characters in this story.  B (or Beatrice as Gio insists on calling her) is a smart, strong willed, curious, and sassy woman.  She’s had traumas in her past, but she’s pretty even keeled despite that.  I loved how passionate she was about her education/job/potential career/whatever you call it.  She really loved learning, and searching for answers, and all the things that made me realize I *wouldn’t* want to be a librarian (because I really only like shelving books).

Gio was complicated, and frustrating, and adorable (in an odd way).  His life had conditioned him to have certain expectations about himself, and rules about engaging with others…hence the frustrating part.  I got it, but boy was I frustrated by it.  There are certain choices he made that I’m still uncertain about, but I’m hoping as we learn more about him, it will make more sense.  His insistence on keeping things close to his vest is just…*sigh*

They had a very interesting connection right from the start.  I think they intrigued one another, and it went beyond just an attraction.  I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and develop, even as it hit roadblocks here and there.  And when we finally got some more romantic aspects?  Ooooo baby, wow.

The plot, and world, and mystery all played a big role in the story as well.  I think the world was laid out pretty clearly (at least what we know as readers so far).  I don’t read a lot of books with mystery elements, but I enjoyed how we were teased little bits at a time.  There’s an aspect of my personality that got impatient, but in general I would get enough tastes that they would tie me over until the next morsel.

The secondary cast was outstanding.  I ADORED the spunky Isadora, and the loyal but sassy Caspar.  Tenzin was fascinating and so not what I was expecting.  The bad guy was appropriately creepy and intriguing.  But the star for me was wholeheartedly Carwyn.  I loved Gio’s odd and hilarious best friend.  I found he added so much to the story, and even to the relationship between B and Gio.  Without him, the story wouldn’t have been the same.

So yeah.  What can I say?  I want more.

COYER Community: I buddy read this book with Sophia Rose and Brandee!  We all got totally sucked in, and now we’re excited to continue the series…hopefully book 2 in May!  We all gave it 4.5 stars, and had a blast talking about different aspects.  Read Sophia’s review here, and Brandee’s review here.