Ignite your imagination with The First Spark

Happy Publication Day to the 'I loved it so much I wanted to shout it from the rooftops' The First Spark. I am proud to say I was part of the Street Team for this 1st installment and would do so again for every book of the Dynasty of Fire series, written by the very talented Mallory Moss.

Kalie never wanted a crown, but tragedy & revenge lead her down that path. Her true family is murdered by a galactic tyrant, and she will do anything to avenge them, even return to a court that wants her dead. As a fugitive, she is caught by Zane, an ex-soldier who hates her family and begs for his help. He is supposed to loathe her, but she is his ticket to getting back his family's inheritance. To accomplish their mission, they will face a galaxy full of threats that is ready for war, and they will either kill each other or fall into the grasp of temptation.

We land right into an inviting whirlwind of info & political intrigue, keeping us on our toes from the get-go, and I'm here for it. The author treats her readers like the intelligent people they are, confident they can keep up. While you're getting comfortable and finding your space legs, BOOM! a life-altering tragedy changes everything. Your heart will be in your throat quite often during this tale. The edge-of-our-seat action is so intense, it felt like R2-D2 screaming (come on, I had to put Star Wars in here). It comes alive, making you feel like you can touch it, as does the sum of the engaging narrative, thanks to the energetic writing in all its evocative glory. We are moved to perceive the technology, aliens, different planets and so on as natural — everyday life — accepting the invitation for our imagination to roam.

The 3rd person POVs are so intimate, so personal, looking inside their souls, they feel beyond and above 1st person. The relatability of the main characters is a more than welcome attribute as they stumble in their new roles, make mistakes and try to make things right. These are circumstances we can identify with as we more than willingly root for them. Kalie and Zane lash out at one another, thinking it will ease their pain, though they have more in common than they think — both are serving heartbreak and grief. But more often than not, they surprise each other and themselves with gradual acts of respect and loyalty, slowly thawing their frosty shields, protection from outside hurt. In true, wonderful, loathing-to-lovers fashion, there are biting remarks, awkward situations that spark inexplicable feelings and butting of heads. And that yummy, sizzling slow burn...

Gifted with an exceptionally heinous villain to hate, among other jaw-dropping betrayers, this tale is rich with Machiavellian tactics, royal drama, Game of Thrones level plays for power and breath-stealing battles. Let us not forget what all great stories should have: side characters that steal the show, a badass, snarky mercenary and a smartass aibot, Mira & Cybel give us a bow.

The reality and severity of war are depicted purposely here, while the book actually champions for peace. Grief is treated with respect for its unpredictability in appearance and bittersweet sensation of loss and cherishment. The person who loses everything and fights to come back from that exudes true strength. This tale is about rising to the occasion, stepping into your power.

I giggled and outright cackled, felt my heart squeeze and soar, I cheered, and cursed and outright yelled during the exhilarating experience of reading this book and loved every minute of it.