Fire Master by Rhonda Denise Johnson follows Loby as he takes on the incredible journey to be the Master of Fire. 

Review

Fire Master by Rhonda Denise Johnson revolves around Loby, the journeyman of the former Fire Master, Lord Eleveston. After the evil Lord Eleveston is thwarted, it is up to Loby to step up into his role as the fire mage. However, there is a problem. He does not know the secret of fire. Moreover, he is skeptical about taking up the mantle of his deceased master lest it corrupts him as it did him. When the lack of fire leads to earthquakes and an unbearably frigid climate, Loby has no choice but to find a way to let go of his reservations and fulfill his duty. He travels to Nanosia to find answers. He is shocked to see that the Nanosians have their own problems. To add to everything, King Cestor of Romatica has enlisted the help of the Jinnli in his quest to defeat the Looreans. Little does he know that the Jinnli has its own dark motivations. 

Will Loby ever be ready to be the Fire Master? Will he be able to uncover the secret of fire and save the world?  

Fire Master is the second book in Rhonda Denise Johnson’s Nanosia Series. Though it starts off right after its prequel, Queen of the Quantum Realm, Johnson crafts Fire Master so masterfully that it can easily be read as a standalone. This is great for those who have yet to get their hands on the first book.

In Fire Master, Rhonda Denise Johnson wonderfully fleshes out the Big World. From the intrigues of Hadley Town’s two street gangs, the Red Dagger and the Dreaded Steps, to the court politics of Romatica and Loorland, Johnson depicts it all. The pubs and cobbled streets in Hadley Town, along with the courtly manners of the king’s court and the bloodlust of the soldiers, give off a medieval vibe. The war between the Romaticans and the Looreans is also portrayed intricately. From espionage and sieges to straight-out fighting, we experience it all. I love how intricately Johnson presents the action sequences to us.

In tandem with the Big World, Nanosia is also developed masterfully. We find ourselves in the familiar surroundings of the Quantum Realm and the Realm of Chaos once again. However, this time, we move on further to Atomidom. I was glad to learn more about bosons, protons, electrons, and neutrons. My favorite part was the one about the relic radiation. I found myself wishing to be there with Loby for just a moment so that I too could experience the history of the universe. As always, I was impressed by the way Johnson personified elementary particles. I was happy to catch up with Pym, Nano, and Queen Quanta. Higgy was the one who intrigued me the most. I felt his despair and related to his need to exist. The Jinnli was well-developed. His background made me understand his motivations. 

The human characters are all drawn expertly as well. Loby was just a boy thrust into a role he was not ready for. Though his reluctance to step up to his duty annoyed me a little at times, I understood that it was natural for any boy in his position. Actually, it was admirable that he did not want to be corrupted by power like his master. Loby’s journey to be the Fire Master taught me a lot about both the good and bad aspects of power. His relationships with Prenda and Pyck played key roles in his development as a character. Prenda jumped into a completely unknown world after Loby without any questions. Though she faltered in the beginning, she was always there for him. It was great to see their bond blossom. However, I would have liked it if we got a bit more glimpse into her background with Mit. Pyck, Loby’s half-brother, was a character shrouded in mystery. Though he was difficult to like, there undoubtedly was an innate charm about him. His star-crossed relationship with Queen Quila is complicated yet dreamy. Pyck grew on me toward the end of the book when his loyalty toward both Loorland and Romatica came to the fore. I can’t wait to see Johnson depict the conflict between his two opposing loyalties in the next book. I liked his interactions with Peanut as well. Also, it was great to revisit Jawan and Myrlo again. 

Overall, Rhonda Denise Johnson’s Fire Master is a spectacular read. It is fast-paced and is guaranteed to hold your attention till the last page. I highly recommend this book to science fiction lovers and fans of YA fantasy. People who like action-packed novels with a medieval vibe will love Fire Master as well. 

Book Details

• Title: Fire Master
• Author: Rhonda Denise Johnson
• Genre: Science Fantasy
• Theme: Magic, Science, YA, Fantasy
• Publication Date: July 8, 2018
• ISBN or ASIN: B07FCX5HYK
• Number of Pages: 288
• Minimum Audience Age: 13

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

• Sexual themes: 1
• Religious themes: 0
• Violence, self-harm, etc.: 2
• Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 2
• Other adult themes: 2

Rating

• Content: 5 stars
• Writing Style: 5 stars
• Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
• Uniqueness: 5 stars
• Editing: 5 stars
• Other factors: 5 stars
• Overall: 5 out of 5

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