The Fire Rose

By: Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by: Kate Black-Regan

Accepting employment as a governess after hard times hit her family, medieval scholar Rosalind Hawkins is surprised when she learns that her mysterious employer has no children and only wants her to read to him through a speaking tube.

©1996 Mercedes Lackey (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

My heart sings

This reading of my favorite book is both true to the author’s writing and a true representation of the fairytale the book is based on. I have read and re-read this book so many times that I have gone through two paperback copies. Now, thanks to audible; I have this to listen to forever.

Rose & Jason

This is a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Set in 1906 and the world of the Elemental Masters, Rosalind finds herself an orphan. Jason needs a scholar to assist him in finding a cure to his condition.

I wanted more of a resolution

What made the experience of listening to The Fire Rose the most enjoyable?

The reader was excellent and storytelling great.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rose - literature always needs self possessed women

Which character – as performed by Kate Black-Regan – was your favorite?

still Rose..

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The climactic scene

Any additional comments?

I did expected more from the epilogue. The story was so entrancing.

Only One Complaint

I have only one issue and it's the same issue I have had with several books, the cover artist did not read the book! Other than the fact that the cover does not match the descriptions in the book itself it's one of my favorites.

As with many of the other audiobooks I buy I had read this book years ago.

I'm so glad the reader was good. I've come across books that I loved in print but could not stand the audio version because of cadence or lack thereof, or simply the pitch of the reader. This was not a problem and I will enjoy listening to it again.

Overall, somewhat disappointing

There beginning seemed very promising, the end was satisfying enough, but the middle was rather boring. The characters were not completely true to what was told about them through exposition, and the exposition itself was very obvious and rough.
Near-sightednes was depicted somewhat strangely, but that probably was not that big of a deal.
What irritated me the most was how the characters conducted their inner monologue - very unnaturally (still just in the middle part - the beginning and the finale was ok).
All in all, I wouldn't recommend it.

Think others are being too harsh on the reader

I'm not sure where the complaints about the speaker's audio quality or overall ability are coming from? This was a very well done reading of a Mercedes Lackey book I enjoyed reading years ago. Perhaps some found it bare bones as there was a voice only, no sounds, but it was hardly as if the speaker didn't make efforts to give every character their unique voice. There were a patch or two where the voice turned tinny, perhaps a fault in the mike, but I listen to enough audio books from smaller publishers that I can give these a touch of leeway.

Anyway, as to the story, very well done take on Beauty and the Beast tale. Still one of Lackey's best romances in the Elemental series, IMO.

mixed feelings about this one

For some reason I thought it was sci-fi when I bought it. A few minutes into it and I thought 'uh oh gothic romance'. But it did grab me and I did enjoy it, although it was of course very predictable and I would have preferred a better ending. The narrator can't do voices, so everyone sounded the same, but she didn't irritate me. I will probably read some more from this author, mainly because I enjoy lighter material sometimes, and being immersed in a slower, less frantic world.

A disappointing rehash of an old classic.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no... I think there are better works by these authors

If you’ve listened to books by Mercedes Lackey before, how does this one compare?

Very disappointing. It had none of the usual magic that makes her books so compelling. Very bland

What does Kate Black-Regan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

good read and good depth in the characters. very easy to build a picture in your mind

Do you think The Fire Rose needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. this story was flossed out to the extremes just to make it as long as it was. it wasn't done well and a follow up would just be ridiculous.

What's up with the low reviews?

I put off buying this book because of all the mixed reviews, the low one in particular? I'm sorry I didn't purchase it right away. It's the perfect beginning to her Elemental Masters series. And while it doesn't have the totally happy storybook ending, it is completely satisfying and logical. In fact I found it quite enthralling. The characters are deeply complex as is the plot. If you like this series, please don't hesitate like I did. You'll be losing out on a marvelous story.

Very Highly Recommended!

Inappropriate narration

Narrator made it sound like a children’s story. Uneven balance of story elements, and ended almost abruptly.