CHICAGO TRIBUNE

For centuries, Spartan Ajax Petrakos has successfully fought against evil as an immortal warrior, but now he faces his toughest battle to date. Ajax's old foe -- the demon Sable -- has surfaced in Savannah. But when Ajax arrives, he discovers not only his worst enemy is waiting for him, but also the woman for whom he has searched thousands of years: his one true love, the demon-hunter Shay Angel.

Knight expertly blends scorching passion, gritty danger and a wildly creative plot in "Red Fire," the first in an edgy new paranormal series. - John Charles, The Chicago Tribune

SCI-FI DIMENSIONS

Ajax Petrakos isn’t just any Spartan - he’s one of the 300 Spartans, that ill-fated band of Greek warriors who died valiantly at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. What history never recorded is that seven of the 300, including Ajax’s two brothers, his servant Kassandros, and King Leonidas himself, were offered a chance at immortality by the god Ares. Gifted with superhuman abilities, and aided by a spritely Oracle whom only Ajax can see, the Seven spend eternity defending humanity, engaging in endless battle against the the demon Elblas and his djinn hordes.

But it’s not all sacrifice and war: by outward appearances, Ajax lives the cosmopolitan lifestyle of a 21st century London professional, and although he doesn’t know it, he’s about to travel to faraway Savannah, Georgia, to meet Shayanna Angel, the woman whom the Oracle of Delphi promises will be his soul-mate for the rest of eternity. Unfortunately, Elblas knows this as well; he also knows that prophecies don’t necessarily come true, and he’s determined to prevent this one and thereby exact his ultimate revenge against Ajax.

Red Fire is the first installment of the new Gods of Midnight series by paranormal romance writer Deidre Knight.Whereas Knight’s first series, Midnight Warriors (which consists of the novels Parallel Attraction, Parallel Heat, Parallel Midnight and Parallel Desire, plus the e-novella Parallel Fire) was a sci-fi-time-travel romance, Midnight Warriors is fast-moving fantasy-horror that draws inspiration from such eclectic sources as ancient Greek history, Middle Eastern mythology and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

So-called “paranormal romance” gets a bad rap; indeed, Juno Books editor Paula Guran wrote (in her introductory essay to the anthology Best New Paranormal Romance): “Romance is… the most underappreciated, disrespected, and misunderstood of all genres.” To which SF&F fans say, “Welcome to the club, lady.” I’m in no position to judge the romance genre (having read none of it), but if Deidre Knight’s Red Fire is a fair sample, I’d say that paranormal romance is certainly not as bad as its critics claim; in fact, for fans of shows like Buffy, the stories will be familiar and fun. At the same time, I’m not sure it will win over many readers of “mainstream” science fiction. Part of the problem is the marketing. Literary categories are a necessary evil that help guide readers where they want to go, but as with any “niche”, readers who don’t “get” the focus of paranormal romance are never going to accept it. And let’s face it, the kind of cover art used for the typical paranormal romance isn’t likely to appeal to the average male reader anymore than typical military sci-fi appeals to women. But none of this should stop curious readers from checking out this increasingly popular genre, as there are plenty of talented writers (mostly women) writing clever and entertaining adventures.

As to the “romance” aspect of Red Fire, there’s plenty of sexual tension and surprisingly little actual sex going on. There are two or three sexually explicit scenes, but they are as tastefully and seriously done as scenes involving a budding demon huntress and an immortal warrior with hawklike superpowers can be. (Sorry to report, guys, that in the universe of Red Fire, size does matter.)

Red Fire hints at a great number of things that beg for more in-depth exploration, and ends with a number of unresolved threads. This first volume will be followed by Red Kiss in June 2009, and if all goes as planned, there will be at least seven and as many as eleven installments before the epic is complete. - John C. Snider, SciFiDimensions.com

SINGLETITLES.COM

Ajax Petrakos has spent centuries keeping mankind safe and now is tired and unwilling to continue. Even finding his prophesied mate, Shay Angel, may not be enough. When he is sent to Savannah, it looks like the prophecy may catch up with him but he may be too late. He finds Shay Angel there but his long time enemy from many centuries ago is also there. Shay, a member of a demon hunting family, is able to see the demons on the streets, the same as her brothers but this ability is not something a women usually has. Seeing the demons has called attention to Shay. Meeting Ajax changes her for it is only together that they will fight his enemy and only together will they triumph for there is more than one prophesy and one may cause Ajax to lose his life. Deirdre Knight does it again with her intriguing tale of two people with abilities that we can only imagine. Ajax is so tortured by his past and what he perceives as his failures, that he is almost crippled. Shay is determined to fight and destroy demons but her destiny may be so much more. These two together make a force to contend with. Excellently written, Red Fire will gain Deidre Knight new fans as we all anxiously wait new books in this series about men who are sure to become our friends through the pages of Deidre Knight’s Red Fire and future books. - Debby, SingleTitles.com

THE ROMANCE STUDIO

Shay Angel's family has kept the streets of Savannah safe from demons for generations. She longs to train and fight by the side of her brothers. But they continually refuse, insisting they're keeping her safe. Shay, however, has a secret that will land her right in the middle of a demon battle zone, alone, with only her self-taught skills as a weapon.

Spartan warrior Ajax Petrakos has spent centuries fighting evil after he and his fellow Spartans accepted the gift of immortality from Ares, God of War. He's been continually searching for Shay Angel, his soul mate as foretold by prophecy, without luck. When the Oracle brings forth another prophecy, he finds himself in Savannah fighting another battle. This time he finally finds his soul mate, battling an old enemy.

An old enemy with a grudge and a meddling god lead two people, destined to meet, into danger and the fight of their lives.

Red Fire is a fabulously exciting and vividly portrayed page-turner of a novel with highly entertaining dialogue. It's the first book in a brand new series by Deirdre Knight. All the characters are vibrant, interesting, and in the case of the Spartans, Yum! Well anyone who watched the movie 300 will get the picture. Shay is frustrated her brothers refuse to train her to be a hunter like themselves. Their desire to protect her actually endangers her, but she's no wilting damsel. Ajax gets a kick out of her strength, courage, and her acceptance. The love scenes are provocative and sizzle. The action scenes, and there are plenty, add thrilling and breathtaking suspense. There's much to love about this story. It's a keeper. I'm looking forward to the next installment from Deidre's Gods of Midnight Series. - Abi, The Romance Studio

WRITER'S GONE WILD

Thousands of years ago, Sparta's greatest warriors gathered at the narrow pass at Thermopylae to face down throngs of Persian invaders. Selflessly battling to their deaths to buy time for their vulnerable country, Ajax Petrakos and his fallen Spartan brothers wake at the banks of the River Styx, prepared to cross to their rewards in the Elysium Fields. Instead, the war god, Ares offers Ajax and his comrades Immortality in exchange for their agreement to protect mortal souls from evil for all Eternity.

When an Immortal Ajax returns Earth, he rushes home to Sparta to see his beloved wife and sons. But the Djinn Demon, Sable, has beaten Ajax home and worked a curse that prevents Ajax's family from recognizing or remembering him. An enraged Ajax battles Sable, and strips him of the one thing he loves--his glittering wings. With Sable banished to the underworld, Ajax turns his back on Sparta forever, alone, heartbroken, and not at all sure that living forever is such a good thing if he must do it without the ones he loves.

Ajax flees to London, where he has spent centuries spending the time he's not battling demons medicating his loneliness with ale and women.

When his friend, the Oracle tells Ajax that the "highest god of all" has asked her to send him to Savannah, Georgia to battle an evil that could lead to his death, he really isn't concerned whether he lives or not. Honestly, death would be a better fate than living forever for a cause he has lost the heart for. Ares has grown in increasingly fickle in his demands of the Spartans. With rumors of this new god, he's not at all sure where his loyalties should lie. At least in death, Ajax could return to the family who waits for him in Elysium. At least there, they would know him, love him. Forever.

When Ajax arrives in a Savannah graveyard, he finds a beautiful woman in a heated battle with Sable, who has escaped banishment. Only after rescuing her and taking her to safety does he realize that this woman is Shayanna Angel, the one promised to him.

But Shayanna isn't quite the demure, helpless lass he'd expected. A demon huntress in her own right, Shay is just now learning the limits of her own power, and she isn't all that sure Ajax is one of the good guys. But neither can deny that the passion growing between them could well destroy them. As the pair battles an evil that threatens to devour every pure soul in its path, they find themselves drawn into a love they are helpless to deny.

But what good is losing his heart to Shayanna Angel when death will only steal her away? She is, after all, a mortal. And he is sworn to live forever.

Deidre Knight pushed the boudaries of urban fantasy with this deeply spiritual story of good vs. evil. The lush southern backdrop makes for a sensual background and Knight works it to the hilt, creating an erotic, heroic passion that burns larger than life itself. - Liane Gentry Skye, Writers Gone Wild

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