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Series Review: The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk

Greetings and welcome to Reviews That Burn: Series Reviews, part of Books That Burn. Series Reviews discuss at least three books in a series and cover the overarching themes and development of the story across several books. I'd like to thank longtime Patron Case Aiken, who receives a monthly shoutout. This episode discusses The Kingston Cycle by C. L. Polk.  Full Audio Here    In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after...
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Fiery Magic by Niranjan

Time travel is risky and regulated, but breaking the law could save her life.

Audrey is a hunter mage, employed by the largest magical corporation in the country. Temporal Corps has an exclusive license for time travel, but the laws are strict. It’s to be used only for exigencies approved by the government.

When she’s sent to the past and poisoned on arrival, the only one Audrey can depend on is her partner Lyle, who is waiting safely in the future. He’ll have to break at least a dozen laws to help her. Unfortunately, getting caught is a life sentence.

Changing the past is a serious crime, but when she receives a message from another version of herself, Audrey realises she may have no choice. It’s a race against the clock, each choice possibly changing her future so much she’ll never undo the damage. She might save her life, but she could lose everything and everyone that’s important to her in the process.

Fiery Magic is a futuristic science fantasy adventure. If you enjoy fantasy worlds where magic and technology co-exist, strong female leads, and found families, you will love Niranjan’s novel.

Buy Fiery Magic today for a trip back in time where you face danger and betrayal at every turn.

COVER ARTIST: Ravenborn Covers
PUBLISHER: Geetha Krishnan
YEAR: 2024
LENGTH: 177 pages 
AGE: Adult
GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction
RECOMMENDED: Yes

Queer Rep Summary: Gay/Achillean Main Character(s), Bi/Pan Main Character(s).

FIERY MAGIC is a time travel story which blends magic and technology together in a way that breaks a bunch of "rules" of time travel stories in a great way. I hadn't realized just how many assumptions I had about what could and couldn't happen with time travel until it deftly sidestepped them by doing its own thing in a way that was excellent and internally consistent, pulling me into a new way of thinking. The most obvious of these was the presence of a means of communication between the past and the future while the changes were still in flux.

I like Audrey and Lyle's relationship, especially the way they worked together with their friend, Nico to get things figured out. 

The ending felt a bit abrupt, but there was just enough of an epilogue to tie up narrative loose ends, even though it left me hanging a bit, emotionally. I wanted a bit more time actually seeing how things ended up, instead of just getting a summary of the most important points. 

If you like this you may like:

  • Curse of Souls by Niranjan
  • Beneath the Rising by Premee Mohamed

Moderate CW for grief, fire, drugs, kidnapping, confinement, car accident, domestic abuse, blood, torture, violence, murder, child death, death.

Indie Story Geek

A woman in a white tunic and leather armor, wearing a green cloak, stands mid-action as she throws fire


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