Ray Lilly is living on borrowed time. He's the driver for Annalise Powliss, a high-ranking member of the Twenty Palace Society, a group of sorcerers devoted to hunting down and executing rogue magicians. But because Ray betrayed her once, Annalise is looking for an excuse to kill him-or let someone else do the job.
Unfortunately for both of them, Annalise's next mission goes wrong, leaving her critically injured. With the little magic he controls, Ray must complete her assignment alone. Not only does he have to stop a sorcerer who's sacrificing dozens of innocent lives in exchange for supernatural power, he must find-and destroy-the source of that inhuman magic.
Child of Fire was named to Publishers Weekly's list of Best 100 Books of 2009.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Connolly's gritty urban fantasy debut is not so urban: it takes place in Hammer Bay, Wash., where residents are thankful for the toy factory that stimulates their economy and are apparently oblivious to the frequent magical immolations of local children. Convicted felon Ray Lilly works for the mysterious Annalise Powliss and the Twenty Palace Society, hunting down people who use magic and the otherworldly predators whose power they channel. Callous Annalise and hard-nosed Ray have a complicated personal history that gradually comes to light as the Society faces off against factory employees, local law enforcement and other corrupt forces in the town. Unique magical concepts, a tough and pragmatic protagonist and a high casualty rate for innocent bystanders will enthrall readers who like explosive action and magic that comes at a serious cost. (Oct.)
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Review
โChild of Fire is excellent reading: a truly dark and sinister world, delicious tension and suspense, violence so gritty you'll get something in your eye just reading it, and a gorgeously flawed protagonist. Take this one to the checkout counter. Seriously.โโJim Butcher, author of the ___Dresden Files
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_"Ray Lilly is one of the most interesting characters I've read lately, and Harry Connolly's vision is amazing. I can hardly wait for the next one." --Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse _series
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__โCinematic and vivid, with a provocative glimpse into a larger world. Whereโs the next one?โโTerry Rossio, screenwriter,Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy
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__โClassic dark noir, fresh ideas, and good old-fashioned storytelling.โโJohn Levitt, author of Dog Days
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__โRedemption comes wrapped in a package of mystery and horror that hammers home the old saying โDonโt do the crime if you canโt do the timeโ . . . and even then youโd better check the yellow pages for one bad-ass exterminator first.โโRob Thurman, author of _Nightlife
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โA fine novel with some genuinely creepy moments. I enjoyed it immensely and hope weโll see more of Ray Lilly.โโLawrence Watt-Evans, author of the _Obsidian Chronicles