Gates of Fire & Earth

Fantasia Reviews 2017 Book of the Year NomineeSuccess will destroy elemental magic. Failure condemns this world and the next.Named Guardian of the Elemental Spheres, Lavinia seeks the lost gates to the spirit realm and their ancient guardians. But some of the guardians have left their duties and those that have stayed may prove as dangerous as her enemy, whose wrath threatens the world. To end an ancient punishment inflicted on them by the Goddess for their role in a forgotten war, the Ashanti will conquer this world and that of spirit to gain power over death.Lavinia must close the gates to stop the Ashanti, even though by doing so she risks ending all elemental powers. And the act has consequences greater than the ancient guardians imagine.But one gate has a new guardian as well as the old, and the last time he saw Lavinia, he tried to kill her before she stole his power. And he's been seeking revenge ...Continue this epic fantasy journey begun in book 1 of the Games of Fire trilogy, Spark of Defiance. Friendships are tested as what is sacrificed is more than some are willing to give. Welcome back to the world of Myrrah and meet the Elementals of Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Spirit who shape it. Pick up book 2 of the Games of Fire trilogy, the Gates of Fire & Earth, today!Q & AShould you read the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy before reading Games of Fire?You should definitely read Spark of Defiance, book 1 of Games of Fire, before reading the Gates of Fire & Earth. I did my best to lightly explain some of the pertinent events from the first trilogy, the Rise of the Fifth Order, in this new epic fantasy trilogy, Games of Fire so that you could start with Spark of Defiance.But a few readers have said they got a lot more depth for having read the Rise of the Fifth Order first. They suggest you start there! It is certainly a great introduction to the world of Myrrah and the characters by starting with Born of Water, which is free to pick up. But I won't say you absolutely have to.Is Games of Fire a continuation of the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy?The Games of Fire and the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogies are related in that they are set in the same world of Myrrah, utilize many of the same characters, and are full of elemental magic. Games of Fire begins with Spark of Defiance, which is set six months after the final book, Spirit of Life, of the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy ends.New problems have developed, so the Games of Fire story line is stand alone trilogy with the same heroes from the first story. However a few events that happened in the Rise of the Fifth Order are the cause of the new challenges rising in Games of Fire. So the two series are linked, but each consists of a different set of adventures and issues to solve.I've only ever heard of four elements, but these books have five even though it is based on elemental magic?This is true! Five elements, air, earth, water, fire, and spirit is actually an eastern philosophy. I wish I could say I invented it. Lol. The difference really comes with the element of earth. Only dead things and soil can be controlled by an Earth Elemental, while plants or anything living (like the ability to change into another living creature) is something that a Spirit Elemental controls. Spirit Elementals are also able to control the other four elements, at least to some degree.Part of the discovery in the Rise of the Fifth Order series is that the ability to control one element might indicate latent gifts in any. However, it is always difficult to learn to control the element opposing your own. So a Water Elemental might learn to control fire, but not easily! AND a few of the heroes have discovered that if you can learn to control fire, earth, air, and water then no matter what element you are born with, you can unlock some of the gifts of spirit.