Review: Not quite as good as the others in the Forbidden Love Series. This rating is really 3.7
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 27, 2014
I still love these characters but something was off in this book. There were still the same editing and formatting issues as before but no book is perfect and I can accept that. My issue with this book is I had a terrible time finding anything attractive, likable, or sad to say redeemable in Leigh. She was just too hard for me. I understand why she has to be this way and it's perfect for the character but she is just too in your face, hard and bitchy for my tastes. I also have issues with Rebel. His stalking Leigh in the beginning is a major one, especially when the truth of Leigh's past comes out.There are current issues dealt with in this book, namely a woman's right to live without being harassed and stalked or forced into a situation that is not of her choosing. But it just shows the talent and wit of Ms. James to be able to write a story where the woman who is at everyone's mercy is possibly the most powerful female on earth and yet she is powerless over what happens to her. This is where I found myself caring a lot more than I realized for Leigh. She is physically strong, mentally determined, and absolutely has a mouth on her, but is ultimately at the mercy of the courts, a psycho, magic, and her feelings for Rebel. Leigh doesn't give up the fight, ever, and her sacrifice shows her ability to love and be loyal and in that lies her redemption. She won't ever be one of my favorite characters in this series but I'm warming up to her.Rebel redeems himself on many levels as well and in the end I found myself routing for him and Leigh, which is one of the reasons I gave this book 3.7 stars in the tag line and left the rating at 4 rather than giving it the straight across 2 stars I started out with.I recommend this book because key events take place and Rebel and Leigh are central characters in later books. However, be prepared, even though this is a complete story (beginning, middle, and end with a HEA) it has a cliffhanger ending. Although I am not a fan of cliffhangers in books, and I absolutely hate to be forced to buy the next installment due to some trickery of the author that forces my hand, I have to be honest and say I can understand why it was necessary in this case...I can also be honest in saying From the Ashes (the continuation of Into the Fire) is a much better read and therefore it is forgivable, at least to me, for the 'To be continued' ending of Into the Fire.