kblincoln's review
5.0
4.5 stars, actually
Call of Fire picks up where Breath of Earth left off: with Ingrid wounded, Cy care-taking, and Fenris obsessed with the aerial ship, Palmetto Bug. They are fleeing the devastation of San Francisco, and the loss of Chinatown. First stopping in Portland where Cy and Ingrid are separated from Lee and Fenris, and then to Seattle.
We get some answers in this book as to why Ingrid has such a powerful geomantic connection to the earth and to the yokai creatures in the mountains, volcanos and fault lines. We also get some...er...developments on the Cy-Ingrid front culminating in a post-bath scene that was just so darn cute.
There's lots of elegant description of decidedly non-elegant devastation.
"Debris flecked the dirt street around them. Bits of wood flamed like torches while jagged shards of glass reflected nearby conflagrations like thin puddles of captured flame."
There's a war going on between several different factions, the Russians, evil Ambassador Blum's soldiers, the United Pacific, and the Chinese they are oppressing. Most of the book is pretty much Cy and Ingrid escaping or trying to rescue someone in the midst of devastation/tanks attacking them. At one point, whether they were in Seattle or Portland kind of became meaningless, since I was a bit confused by them constantly escaping. (and going after Sakaguchi and Lee constantly) However, they do it differently each time, and one thing Cato excels at, which is being consistent with the consequences Ingrid endures for each escape and making her pay the cost. I appreciate that.
I also appreciated the way Ingrid and Cy have to navigate their relationship as Ingrid is a person of color. There are real world consequences for what they are allowed to do by society in public, and complications that bring up a variety of racial issues.
I also enjoyed the touches of Japanese culture: legs like udon noodles, moshi moshi to catch a kitsune trickster, authentic Japanese phrases. None of it was distracting or jarring, and none of it seemed thrown in there just for "coolness factor" but functioned as a considered part of the world-building.
Can't wait to find out what Ingrid will do next now that she's (possibly temporarily) escaped from Blum, but lost Sakaguchi and Lee, and needs to recuperate.
Call of Fire picks up where Breath of Earth left off: with Ingrid wounded, Cy care-taking, and Fenris obsessed with the aerial ship, Palmetto Bug. They are fleeing the devastation of San Francisco, and the loss of Chinatown. First stopping in Portland where Cy and Ingrid are separated from Lee and Fenris, and then to Seattle.
We get some answers in this book as to why Ingrid has such a powerful geomantic connection to the earth and to the yokai creatures in the mountains, volcanos and fault lines. We also get some...er...developments on the Cy-Ingrid front culminating in a post-bath scene that was just so darn cute.
There's lots of elegant description of decidedly non-elegant devastation.
"Debris flecked the dirt street around them. Bits of wood flamed like torches while jagged shards of glass reflected nearby conflagrations like thin puddles of captured flame."
There's a war going on between several different factions, the Russians, evil Ambassador Blum's soldiers, the United Pacific, and the Chinese they are oppressing. Most of the book is pretty much Cy and Ingrid escaping or trying to rescue someone in the midst of devastation/tanks attacking them. At one point, whether they were in Seattle or Portland kind of became meaningless, since I was a bit confused by them constantly escaping. (and going after Sakaguchi and Lee constantly) However, they do it differently each time, and one thing Cato excels at, which is being consistent with the consequences Ingrid endures for each escape and making her pay the cost. I appreciate that.
I also appreciated the way Ingrid and Cy have to navigate their relationship as Ingrid is a person of color. There are real world consequences for what they are allowed to do by society in public, and complications that bring up a variety of racial issues.
I also enjoyed the touches of Japanese culture: legs like udon noodles, moshi moshi to catch a kitsune trickster, authentic Japanese phrases. None of it was distracting or jarring, and none of it seemed thrown in there just for "coolness factor" but functioned as a considered part of the world-building.
Can't wait to find out what Ingrid will do next now that she's (possibly temporarily) escaped from Blum, but lost Sakaguchi and Lee, and needs to recuperate.
rachelini's review
3.0
This is more on me than the book, because I didn't remember the previous book, but it took me until probably halfway through before I understood why they'd even gone to Seattle in the first place. Very much enjoy the core group of characters, though.
dani_k's review
4.0
I've taken issue with the way many steampunk novels avoid the troublesome cultural issues of the time they're glorifying. Even though this series takes place in a timeline altered from true history, it manages to address a very real problem at this time in American history—the plight of Chinese immigrants. Breath of Earth introduced an extreme version of real events with the invention of the United Pacific, a cooperative union between the United States and Japan (with an eye toward empire-building and the complete destruction of China). Call of Fire expands on this theme.
While this book doesn't maintain the break-neck pacing of the first, it does take time to examine culture and show us a bit more about this world. I also really enjoyed getting more info on the fantastics, which are magical creatures based on fae and other creatures from mythology. All these elements added together, and combined with a magic system that's fun and different, make for a great series so far.
While this book doesn't maintain the break-neck pacing of the first, it does take time to examine culture and show us a bit more about this world. I also really enjoyed getting more info on the fantastics, which are magical creatures based on fae and other creatures from mythology. All these elements added together, and combined with a magic system that's fun and different, make for a great series so far.
duncan_r's review
5.0
Another wonderful book from Beth Cato. Longer review available Tuesday Oct 23, 2018 on www.duncansbooksandmore.com
bricin's review
3.0
Lovely world creation; I like how the magic slowly unfolds throughout the two books. I appreciate the underlying racial tensions in the books and how those are impacting each of the main characters.
The dings:
* The books could use more editorial oversight. There are errors and inconsistencies throughout.
* The love interest is a touch forced.
The dings:
* The books could use more editorial oversight. There are errors and inconsistencies throughout.
* The love interest is a touch forced.
lizshayne's review against another edition
3.0
I knew I had read the first book in this series and remembered absolutely NOTHING about it except that there was earth magic and a main character. So, you know, I wasn't actually wrong about anything.
It's still a really cute series. The main characters don't annoy me and the romance is handled very well.
It's still a really cute series. The main characters don't annoy me and the romance is handled very well.
jackiijackii's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put it down. Everything's escalating and new revelations and secrets and the stakes just keep getting higher and higher. Cannot wait until book 3!
everydaymagic's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful read, full of historical fact and fantasy combined. While dealing with many uncomfortable subjects, this book kept me turning pages as I sympathized with the protagonist and her friends so much. In addition, here in Book 2 of the series, we get more information on Ingrid, the protagonist, and her previously-unknown background, and are treated to watching her learn and grow in her magical, geomantic skills. (PS--I really loved Tacoma.)
The settings are wonderful, the "motley" assortment of protagonist's friends and allies are easy to cheer for, the conversations going on are engaging, and the fantastic creatures are, um, fantastic! Both historical fantasy *and* secondary world fantasy fans will both really dig this series, and its unique takes on a historical era not much seen recently.
The settings are wonderful, the "motley" assortment of protagonist's friends and allies are easy to cheer for, the conversations going on are engaging, and the fantastic creatures are, um, fantastic! Both historical fantasy *and* secondary world fantasy fans will both really dig this series, and its unique takes on a historical era not much seen recently.
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