Thriller novels take an eerie spin in A Vision of Fire by writing duo Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin. The plot revolves around the seemingly ordinary PTSD of one teen and unfold into a tale of epic proportions. From beginning to end, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. The lead character Caitlin O’Hara goes on a quest for the hardest thing to find–the truth.
Renowned child psychologist Caitlin O’Hara is a single mom trying to juggle her job, her son, and a lackluster dating life. Her world is suddenly upturned when Maanik, the daughter of India’s ambassador to the United Nations, starts speaking in tongues and having violent visions. Caitlin is sure that her fits have something to do with the recent assassination attempt on her father—a shooting that has escalated nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan to dangerous levels—but when teenagers around the world start having similar outbursts, Caitlin begins to think that there’s a more sinister force at work.
In Haiti, a student claws at her throat, drowning on dry land. In Iran, a boy suddenly and inexplicably sets himself on fire. Animals, too, are acting irrationally, from rats in New York City to birds in South America to ordinary house pets. With Asia on the cusp of nuclear war, Caitlin must race across the globe to uncover the mystical links among these seemingly unrelated incidents in order to save her patient—and perhaps the world.
The plot is the biggest strong point of the entire book. I don’t say this lightly because A Vision of Fire is chock full of great aspects from well written characters to visually captivating narratives. It is rare that I come across a piece of fiction which is so well written and pulls the reader into the story. This is one of those few occasions.
The main character Caitlin is genuinely passionate about her work as a pediatric psychologist. Her passion is so evident that it propels the plot forward, forcing her to search for answers even when the circumstances are dire. Interestingly, we don’t learn much about her as a person but we learn enough to make her feel realistic. She’s a single mom of a deaf tween and her love life is less than stellar. The best thing is that these facts play in the background rather than be a main focus that distracts from the story. The secondary characters are nonetheless genuine. My favorite is Ben, the translator who is fascinated by the puzzle who can’t stop until he’s figured it out.
I am hard pressed to find a negative about A Vision of Fire. The story was enthralling and it satisfied everything I look for in a good read. If you are searching for an immersive story that will have you wondering what is real and what isn’t, look no further.
I looked at this and thought about getting the audio for review. I love Gillian Anderson as an actress, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll like her as a writer. Your review makes it more compelling. I might have to reconsider.
Melanie Simmons (@mlsimmons) recently posted…Seven Years Audiobook by Dannika Dark
I’m glad to hear! I definitely enjoyed it. I hope you do too.