“I smell drunk and look crazy. Trust me. My appearance IS the first line of defense.
What is happening? the vampire thought. Does she not need blood to survive?
“You are like a puzzle. What fun I will have figuring you out.”
(Fire & Ice 3) Fused in Fire by K. F. Breene
Audibook Narrator: Nicole Poole
Basic Info: Epub via PocketBook Android App has 34 Chapters containing 267 Pages. Audiobook on Smart Audiobook Player Pro: runs 9 hours and 9 seconds.
You may want to know my thoughts on Review spoilers, and ratings before you go beyond "Generally". Back button to return here
My Rating: 
I would recommend this 4-star fantasy about Reagan Somerset to those who enjoy paranormal romance, humor, and world building that includes nearly all things rumored to exist from Tolkien to Rowling. The Fire and Ice Trilogy is for those who may like werebadgers, werewolves, and vampires, including powerful elder vampires like Vlad and Darius.
If Ms. Breene's Fire and Ice world were on TV it would blend X-files, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with Portland's detective Nick Burkhardt, one of the last Grimm's to confront the wild "Wessen" of Portland Oregon.
No offense to the cameo appearances of minor species like unicorns, dragons, T-Rex, or beloved evil clown demons. You may be surprised to find common goats and llama grazing unconcerned in the hallucinogenic wilds of hell, however.
Generally: (Entering Possible Spoiler Zone).
Our protagonist is Reagan Somerset who appears to be a rather unpredictable human female
When we first meet Reagan in Born in Fire, the first book in this trilogy, her ability to be a supernatural bounty hunter is bewildering to most folks who know of mermaids, werewolves, vampires and other creatures who misbehave from time to time. That info is largely restricted to the Magical Law Enforcement (MLE). Reagan, the supernatural bounty hunter, gets "marks" to bring in, or eliminate these unruly supernatural creatures when the MLE can't or won't deal with them in the first two books.
At this stage in the trilogy, Fused in Fire, she's discovered and become friends with her deceased mother's cherished friends, The Dual Mages, Callie and Dizzie. They dote over Reagan, daughter of their long lost friend, as if she were their own grandchild.
During the first two novels Reagan worked for or with Darius, an elder vampire who's power is exceeded only by Vlad. Darius has developed an arduous affection towards Reagan. Naturally, Callie and Dizzy do not like or trust vampires, and powerful elder vampires least of all.
Alternately, Reagan, is intellectually aware that vampires are soulless selfish creatures who wouldn't love if they could. However, she has mixed feelings about Darius in particular. He's powerful, old, better looking than any of the most gorgeous "A list" actors. He has the consistent gallant chivalry of Sir Galahad, the persistent seduction of Don Juan and the romantic virtue of Casanova. Like all elder vampires, he has not been idle with a millennium of wealth building, so Darius spares no expense to assure Reagan of her desires (whether she wants anything or not). And he has saved her life more than once.
No human can ignore such overwhelming affection indefinitely, so Reagan oft finds herself in conflict between her intellect and "her woman bits".
In this outing of the Fire and Ice trilogy the problem is a demon Reagan believed she had dispatched in a previous novel. She has discovered it survived. That demon knows the most dangerous secrets about Reagan's abilities to be a supernatural bounty hunter and if he makes it back to his faction in hell, he will certainly return with an army of demons to capture her.
This kind of invasion upon the normal world would end up killing untold numbers of people and certainly anyone who's friends or neighbors with Reagan. She realizes there's only one thing to do about it. Take it to them, in hell, before they come to her.
My Notable Notes:
Quote - “Look, I can handle demons. Fire, brimstone, damned souls—all that I can handle. But clowns?
Seems clowns are about the most frightening creature on Earth. They are the evil ones in every other movie and book...
Most my notes were character sketches and bits of backstory I wanted to remember. Hasn't helped much with this review.
Likes and Dislikes:
I like how Ms. Breene writes her strong female characters. The humor and playfulness she gives her protagonists always helps me enjoy her novels. The growth they go through is something I also like.
Ms. Breene likes to add romance, sexual tension, and complications into relationships in her books. Sometimes she can get almost pornographic but she manages to keep the mood and humor light so it is neither emotionally draining, nor do the sex scenes seem pornographic, despite how well she creates the imagery.
I can certainly identify, at times, when her protagonist is of one mind and her "womanly bits" are of another.
The Technical: (About the writing critique?)
After finishing the book I read some sour reviews. They focused primarily on some technical issues related to stress points in plot lines. I get a reader's frustration about how Katie (K. F.) did this. I actually think it is kind of brilliant on a number of levels, not a mistake.
Throughout the trilogy there is a stress point that acts like a timer in other crucible type plots. Crucible plots trap a character in an inescapable situation that increases tension while making the protagonist deal with it with "e;not enough time". If they don't deal with it by the deadline, pop goes the weasel.
The stress pressure is the ticktock, time-is-running-out factor in the story. The spaceship is leaking oxygen. The ship is sinking. The bomb will blow in "x" hours.
In this trilogy plot theme, an omnipotent antagonist must never learn about Reagan. If the antagonist ever learns who she is, nothing will stop or could stop the antagonist from enslaving Reagan.
Reagan's ticking time bomb was to escape from this potential slavery from the very beginning. Now add this twist.., the omnipotent antagonist unknowingly provided her the tools she needs to escape his enslavement.
I don't think Katie left things hanging as so many complain just because they want to know more after the conclusion. Rather I suspect the reader didn't realize the escape that appears to leave unanswered questions is the answer to the plot's question.
Will Reagan manage to live in peace, being who she is, without being enslaved for being who she is? The plot question is clearly answered by the conclusion of the trilogy.
For the record, I think it is a question many women ask themselves, in some form, many times in their lives. I know my grown daughters wonder, on occasion, if their decisions have enslaved them or if they can be "good enough" or happy in the future.
Conclusion:
Ms. Breene writes well. Her strong female protagonists are usually comical with their cynicism or sarcasm. She keeps her heroes human and vulnerable, usually bugged about trivia that likely bugs you or me as well. Her novels are structured well. She hits her plot points and increases the stakes the closer we get to a conclusion. At each step her heroes need to step-up, be better or become more...
I've read 6 of her books twice & will finish the 6 in this "world". I'd let my grand kids read her books, but they're all adults or nearly adults. I don't think younger kids should read them, for the explicit sex. The sexual content is done well, it isn't indulgent. It take place as it should, in context with the stream of events, and is used well -- adding sexual tension along with danger in her novels.
Finally, I tripped upon Ms. Breene almost by accident and initially thought her "another indie writer" with routine "indie author" issues. Truth is, if she doesn't have an agent, it's because she doesn't want one. (She might consider one, but she's doing okay.) If you like strong female protagonist in fantasy novels, I think you'll enjoy her work.
Read on: Feb 8, 13, 19, & 25 2021
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