Review for Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

Since the 1970s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend MeShack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

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As a fan of the paranormal and urban fantasy genre I was excited to discover this new series by Kenya Wright.  As the start to a new series the premise is clearly defined and the worldbuilding is exciting and unique.  Throw in a kick butt heroine, two sexy heroes, and a fast-paced and suspenseful murder mystery and you have a satisfying read from start to finish. 

Lanore Vesta is a Mixedblood creature capable of absorbing and throwing fire.  As a Mixedblood she's always been looked down upon by those of Pureblood, but it doesn't stop her from fighting for equality for those of her kind.  Through her work with the MFE she's introduced to the supremely sexy, and extremely radical, Zulu who throws her hormones into a tizzy.  As if one sexy man weren't enough, Lanore lives with her childhood friend MeShack who's her ex-lover but still in love with her.  She is perfectly compatible with each shifter, making for a difficult choice between the two.  They both trust in her ability to take care of herself but don't hesitate in playing the hero without diminishing her capabilities.  Throughout the story I found Lanore to be an extremely likable character willing to sacrifice herself to save others.  She had a tough childhood but hasn't let it weigh her down.  She's smart and strong and is the epitome of what I enjoy in a heroine.

Zulu and MeShack are the perfect kinds of heroes.  They're sexy, strong, and charming when need be.  They both genuinely care for Lanore and would literally die for her.  Seeing them verbally spar over her while outflexing each other leads to some humorous moments amidst the grisly sacrificial murders occurring.  I look forward to seeing how this love triangle plays out now that an unexpected event occurred between Zulu and Lanore.  And if MeShack needs any consoling, I hereby volunteer my services!

The worldbuilding in this story is vividly unique and the class warfare occurring is very timely and relatable.  The war between the races is just heating up and there's a sense that much blood will be shed as the series continues.  I'm particularly worried about Zulu considering his radical political views and inability to think first before acting.  Thank heavens he has Lanore as his second-in-command.  As if the class warfare wasn't bloody enough, there's a sacrificial religious zealot on the loose.  The murders are grisly and yet intriguing and the identity of the villain is kept well-hidden.  The final confrontation between the murderer and Lanore is exciting and action-packed and leads to a rousing conclusion for the story.

This was a satisfying story from start to finish amidst a world that was unique and full of memorable characters.  I'm excited to see where things go not only on the political level but on the romantic level as well.  I'm definitely excited to revisit this world and hope Ms. Wright writes quicker!

My rating for this is an A!

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.