Breath of Fire starts with a bang as Cat's long-kept secrets are finally out in the open. But now that, that is done, it's time to keep Sinta safe from the possibly invading Tarvan royals. To do that, Cat, Griffin, and Beta Team will have to travel within reach of the Fisan throne which puts Cat in the sights of her mother. But the group quickly realizes that they'll can't just sit behind a blockade and await attack. If they want to succeed they'll have to bring the fight to Tarva. 
 I was pretty startled with the abrupt way the story began, and after the fact, despite the fight it caused between Griffin and Cat, I was honestly relieved that Cat's secrets were finally revealed because I was hoping Amanda Bouchet would have already done that by the end of the first book A Promise of Fire, and was a little disappointed that she didn't. I think because to readers the fact that Cat is the long-lost Fisan heir was so obvious, I thought any subterfuge to keep this fact from coming out in the open in the story, was just silly. I probably would be singing a different tune if her identity had been a complete secret from us readers as well. 
 After we moved past this, I was not sure what to expect from the remainder of the story. Mind you, I absolutely loved A Promise of Fire, so this one had a lot to live up to, which I kinda think was going to be an uphill battle from the beginning. Plus, it's the middle book in a planned trilogy, and I think it the way it fills those shoes is very apropos. 
 Looking back on the story in its entirety, I felt like it took awhile to find its footing. We have our cast of characters going on various "quests" to get the help they need for Sinta, which taken on their own are compelling and kept me reading, but I didn't feel like they fit together as a whole very well. The spaces between felt like a lot of filler to me as the group finds the Oracle on the Frozen Lake, and after a ton of assistance from various Gods, are sent to Mt Olympus on the hunt for an object to gain them the help they will need in Sinta. I almost felt like this journeying was a way to capture that feeling from the first book after Cat was kidnapped and the group worked their way back to Sinta and were facing many obstacles along their journey back. 
 It may sound a little muddled, but that's because I feel it was, not until past the halfway mark when the group decides to enter a gladiatorial tournament did my ears perk up and was I completely invested in the story. I always love a good tournament storyline as I love when our characters get to flex some muscles and show opposers what's up. I would have been a happy camper had this storyline taken a more primary spot in the book. 
 Now, on to some other things. I liked the upping of the steamy romantic moments between Cat and Griffin. I liked seeing their relationship move to that next level. But, on that note, there were times it bordered on too much. Almost. I was almost at the point where I was thinking they needed to back off a little because there were other things going on that were slightly more important than them having sex....again. 
 Amanda Bouchet also decided to add another plot twist (much like Cat's secret familial past), which was, again, extremely obvious from the get-go. I kinda liked the reversal in that last time Cat was privvy to her own secrets, but this time around it seems as though everyone but Cat was in the know. I will say that I was glad we get the revelation of said plot twist by the end of this book and we don't have to wait for another somewhat pointless reveal in the next book Heart on Fire. 
 I know a lot of this review seems in the negative. So why 4 stars? There were enough good pieces of story that invested me in the book, even if I think, put together, they don't really mesh. The gladiator tournament was fantastic. I loved that the Greek Mythology that has been utilitzed so far in this series has been some that I've never read before instead of falling on those stories more universally known, Breath of Fire continues along in that same vein. And, the secondary character really stole the story for me this time around. We learn more about Beta Team as well as Griffins sisters. Get more glimpses of their lives and things they've been through, or those they have possibly pined for, for years. So despite a bit of a clunky feel for me, I'm still really looking forward to the next / last book. Great things were started in the beginning and I'm hoping we're being led to an awesome conclusion, which I can't help but feel will show Cat finally having some long-standing confrontations.