Red Fire is the first in a new series by Deidre Knight
featuring seven warriors, Spartan soldiers who fought at the battle of Thermopylae and were then offered immortality if they continued to fight against demons. This story highlights Ajax Petrakos,
a warrior who has been going off the rails in the last few years. Long ago it was prophesied that he would find
a destined mate named Shayanna Angel, but he doesn't expect to find her in a cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.
Shayanna's family are demon hunters, but this supposed to only
run in the male line. Since Shay turned 25, she's been able to see demons, and she knows there's more to learn about her role in hunting demons, although neither of her brothers will explain it to her. When she meets Ajax and finds herself battling alongside him against a centaur, she begins to learn about these secrets and
the special talents she might have.
Shay and Ajax have to race to solve a prophecy, but it may mean separating them when they've only just found each other. With the god Ares breaking his vows and various other problems, can they find happiness together?
I enjoyed reading Red Fire with its
dichotomy of a modern-day setting with the inclusion of ancient warriors. As well as the primary love story, there
is also the beginning of another, featuring Leonidas, the King of Sparta and another of the warriors. Shay
is a reasonably appealing character if rather impetuous at times, but the demons
aren't as menacing as they could have been. Some parts of the plot seem a bit too unlikely, but overall it's a reasonable read, and the Spartan warrior idea works well.