Bound in Flame by Katherine Kayne

I was approached about reading this new release from Katherine Kaye and agreed to read a copy for review.  I anticipated an electronic copy but was pleased when they posted out a paperback for me to read!  Bound in Flame focuses on an interesting time in the history of Hawaii where it is set.  It’s the early 1900s and women are eager for the privilege of voting.  The motor car is building a following and working horses are diminishing.

Leticia (Letty) Lang is this novel’s protagonist.  She is an 18 year old woman – a suffragist – who desires to be the first qualified veterinarian.  She loves all animals but has a particular passion for horses.  Being female puts her at a disadvantage.  Having dark coloured skin adds to this, as well as being someone of working class, rather than in high society.  Add to this the penchant for acting on emotion and Letty finds herself in trouble on many occasions.

What this ambitious young woman doesn’t realise is that a lot of her tenacity actually comes from a gift she has – something she believes is Hawaiian mythology – but appears over time to in fact be real.  And worse yet, she is tied up in the middle of it.

A heat that accompanies her whenever an animal is in pain or threatened could actually be a gift to help animals – and people.  It all comes to a head when she leaps off a ship to save a beautiful stallion that was being mistreated.  And so starts her incredible adventure to learn about these ‘flames’ that always appear to accompany her.

Bound in Flame by Katherine Kayne

Bound in Flame is a most delightful read.  It mixes some true facts of Hawaiian history and throws in some intriguing fantasy, looks at interracial relationships, has heaps of horse scenes as well as a delightful romance.  The book is humourous and moves at a good pace. It was also an absolute joy to read.  Bound in Flame is highly recommended and I am curious to see where Katherine Kayne goes with the delightful characters that feature in this novel.

Author – Katherine Kayne
Fiction – adult
In my library – definitely is.