Kate Kane (not Batwoman) reminds me a lot of Jessica Jones if Jessica Jones was into paranormal. You know, more than superpowers and terrifying villains. 

What was the book about?
Fire & Water picks up six months after Shadows & Dreams. Kate is once again looking for the Tears of Hypnos. If you remember, these were what brought all the mayhem in the previous episode. Every wizard and his brother is looking for them because they’re the stuff dreams are made of. Literally. Whoever owns them can have power over the whole world. Or the whole world that matters to them. I got a bit discombobulated about the details when Julian (the sexy Vampire Prince Kate has been shagging since Iron & Velvet) mentioned she didn’t feel concerned. But hey, everyone else in Kate’s environment is, so Kate’s on a mission to find the Tears and hand them over to the least dangerous supernatural being. 

Featured Tropes
Paranormal; Vampires ; Werewolves

Book Strengths
One of the things I enjoyed about the previous books was their lightness even though they were about death and war. The humour made me smile and snort and snicker. This third one is darker. The characters are still great and I uber-love Kate Kane, but it doesn’t read as easily. It’s more intense. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. And it’s as sarcastic and as snicker-worthy as ever. I mean, even in the direst circumstances, Kate is so deliciously snarky. And for the first time, I also found Elise, the magically animated statue, incredibly interesting. Watching her become, in a way, is captivating. Like the first time your child reads a whole sentence by themselves.

Book Weaknesses
Not a weakness but a word of warning: despite Carina Press’s promise of HEA / HFN, Fire & Water definitely doesn’t end well. Nor is it a romance, really. But please don’t let that stop you from reading it. 

Character Chemistry
Kate is still shagging Julian Saint-Germain, the Vampire Prince of Cups, ie the pleasure queen (except she’s a prince), so whenever they get together, it’s pretty steamy pretty fast. Yet this episode is mainly about trying to save the world from ending so there is not a lot of getting together.

Heat Rating
4

Wrap up
A so very good, a more mature sequel to the previous instalments.

Star Rating
4.5

Would you like to buy a copy?