And here it is...

Title: BLOOD & GOLD
Series: The FIRE trilogy – the Hand of Kali Series
Volume: 2
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: Mid 2014
Publisher: Infinite Ink
Blood & Gold on Goodreads

As Maya perfects her Fire skills she finds there is more to being the Hand of Kali than just wielding Fire.

A surprising summons to Mount Kailas takes Maya on a journey to meet the Lord of the Hindu Pantheon – Lord Shiva himself. This time the God’s request may not be so easy to fulfill.

Maya and her friends must flee the demons and the ruthless killers on their trail to retrieve the golden bow of Lord Rama.
Can Maya get the bow back in time, and also save a certain demon king in the process?

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

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Book Review - Fire by T. G. Ayer

Normal people sneak out to a party and have fun. Maya Rao ends the evening by incinerating the guy who attacks her. 

Nik Lucas, sexy, new in town and totally forbidden, happens to walk in on her. Normal guys would run for the hills. Nik knows a whole lot more than he's telling.

Maya doesn't believe the gods are real, doesn't waste her time with mere mythology. But when gods, demons and hellhound's become the new normal and wielding fire becomes her new skill, she must decide what it is she really believes.

Can Maya accept that normal is something she will never be because it isn't normal to be...the Hand of Kali.

My thoughts...

Let me first talk about the beauty of this cover. Isn't it gorgeous? Look at that hair! I think it's stunning.

Now to the story. This is my favourite T. G. Ayer book so far. I think it's because it has far more teen angst than her other books and I'm really into that. Maya is a great character. Ayer knows how to write kick-ass female leads and Maya is no exception. But Maya also has a softness and uncertainty about her that is endearing.

The romantic elements of this story are great. I'm totally into the whole forbidden love thing and Nik is a GREAT character. I was totally crushing on him throughout the book :)

I also love Maya's two best friends. They bring so much flavour to the story. They balanced the tense action with the right amount of comic relief and a few heartfelt moments that were brilliantly written.

Another plus about this story is the unique nature of the mythology. I knew nothing about Hindu mythology before reading this and I found it fascinating. I love that we find out things at the same time Maya does. It made me feel like I was walking the journey with her and helped me engage so much faster.

If you're looking for a unique story with strong characters and Ayer's usual writing flair, then you should definitely check out Fire.

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Add the book to your reading list on Gooreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17264568