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Starting with the premise of four novels based on the phases of alchemy and the four elements, Tanith Lee has created an evocative alternate Italy in her new series The Secret Books of Venus. In Saint Fire, the second volume in the series, Volpa is a strangely beautiful servant girl who glows with an inhuman inner fire. When her master, an abusive woodseller, is mysteriously incinerated, Volpa discovers her power of fire. Her gift is noticed by the Church leaders, who see her as a mighty show more weapon in their holy wars. This gripping fantasy of a mysteriously gifted Joan of Arc is stunning from beginning to end. show lessTags
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The story of a pyrokinetic slave girl who draws the attention of the church, which plans to use her as a secret weapon in an oncoming conflict. Most of the story takes place within the structure of the church, so there was way too much religion for me - what a bore. As is war. 100 pages longer than [b:Faces Under Water|808698|Faces Under Water (Secret Books of Venus, #1)|Tanith Lee|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302618334s/808698.jpg|794639] (which I really enjoyed), it actually seems like much less happens. Lovely writing, as always.
I'm having trouble remembering much, but I do have a few vague impressions of this book. The first was that I didn't like it as much as the first of the "Secret Books of Venus" - I wasn't as into the theme or characters. I do remember something a bit Joan of Arc going on, and that was interesting for me, but the book wasn't a re-read.
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322+ Works 29,794 Members
Tanith Lee, September 19, 1947 - May 24, 2015 Tanith Lee was born on September 19, 1947 in London, England, the daughter of ballroom dancers. She attended various primary schools and had a variety of jobs, from file clerk and assistant librarian to shop assistant and waitress. Lee attended an art college for one year, but felt she would be better show more writing her ideas than painting them. Her first professional sale was "Eustace," a 90 page vignette which appeared in The Ninth Pan Book of Horror Stories in 1968. While Lee was working as an assistant librarian, she wrote a children's story that was accepted for publication. Others of her stories were also bought but never published. In 1971, Macmillan published "The Dragon Hoard," another children's book, which was followed by "Animal Castle" and "Princess Hynchatti and Other Stories" in 1972. Lee was looking for a British publisher for her book "The Birthgrave," but was denied at every House she went. She then wrote to American publisher DAW, known for it's fantasy and horror selections, who immediately accepted her manuscript and published the book in 1975. Thus began a partnership between the two that lasted till 1989 and resulted in 28 books. After the publication of her third book by DAW, Lee quit her job and became a full-time freelance writer. Lee has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the August Derleth Award and the Nebula. She has had more than 40 novels published, along with over 200 short stories. Lee died peacefully in her sleep after a long illness on May 24, 2015. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Saint Fire
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- Members
- 138
- Popularity
- 236,262
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.79)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 4
