Review: Awakening the Fire - Ally Shields

Title: Awakening the Fire
Series: Guardian Witch Book 1
Author: Ally Shields
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Etopia Press
Release Date: September 12, 2012
Pages: 290

Guardian Witch Book One

Arianna Calin has sworn to keep the peace in Riverdale. Most of the Otherworlders prefer to haunt the Olde Town district—partying at vampire strip clubs, dining in elegant supper clubs, and inhabiting the cliffside caverns along the Mississippi. Being a cop is a tough job, but someone's gotta do it, and Ari's got her gun, a good sharp knife, and a few handy charms against things that go bump in the streets. She's also a fire witch—a pedigree that comes in handy, since her partner's only human.

But when a virtual reality drug hits the streets, people (and non-people) start to die, and an elusive pack of werewolves threatens the status quo. Ari and Ryan are drawn into a web of murder and evil that will lead sworn enemies to a confrontation, and while the city simmers around them, only Ari can prevent an all-out supernatural war...

Reviewed by: Linda Tonis

Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team

Arianna Calin is a Supernatural Cop and Guardian, who works for the Magic Council, She is also a Fire Witch. Ari has sworn to protect Riverdale, and especially Olde Town, where the Otherworlders like to spend their time. Since the night belongs to the predators, that is when Ari can be seen doing her job. She also has a partner, Lt. Ryan Foster, her liaison to the human police force. When Ari was born she had a crescent birthmark on her ankle a mark that fated her to be a guardian. When Ari’s mentor, Yana, retired as a Guardian, Ari replaced her. Yana and Ari’s grandmother took her at age six to study to be a guardian.

One night while on patrol, Ari hears screams. She is just in time to save a young couple from becoming victims of a vicious werewolf. Something is definitely not right; werewolves have not attacked like that for years. Coming to her assistance is a vampire, Andreas DeLuca, but he arrives just when Ari has the werewolf retreating. A strange night, a werewolf and a vampire at the same place, at the same time. But, things are about to get even stranger.

A young girl is found murdered in her apartment, apparently by something not human. When a blue pill is found in the apartment it appears drugs are involved. There is a new drug, a hallucinogen called Fantasy making an appearance in Riverdale. It is possible the drug is being used by humans, as well as Otherworlders. Could this drug be the cause of the violence that is rearing its ugly head? As if drugs themselves are not dangerous enough on their own, this one appears to have the added addition of either being cursed or enchanted, which is adversely affecting Otherworlders.

Ari, Ryan, and Andreas form an uneasy alliance to find out who is manufacturing the drugs and causing all the violence. Vampires are disappearing and being killed, as well as humans. Working together the three of them may be able to find answers. In their pursuit of answers, it is discovered that there is a traitor. Every time Ari, Ryan, and Andreas come close to the guilty party, they are always too late. Who wants war between the werewolves and vampires? What is their ultimate goal?

This is a great novel because it is not just a story with vampires, elves, demons, witches and other supernatural beings. Beyond that, it is a great mystery full of suspense and betrayal. Of course, there is also the attraction that Ari and Andreas seem to have toward each other, but as natural enemies is there no hope for a relationship. Ari and Andreas are wonderful characters, he is a handsome sophisticated vampire, and she is a rough and tumble, say-it-like-it-is kind of gal, who doesn’t know when to shut up. This is book one in the series and I look forward to Ari’s next assignment and to see what the author has planned for Ari and Andreas.

If you love paranormal and a good mystery, then I can’t recommend this book enough.