Fantastic ending to this "hot" vampire series
Obsidian Empire
The Firebird and the Wolf
Adult, New Adult, Vampire Romance, Paranormal Fantasy
Recurve Press, LLC
2/19/2026
Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover
396
The ruler of an immortal empire. The rising voice of an ancient clan. The relationship they've hidden from the world. Tatyana Vorona was just a bookkeeper until she made a bargain with a powerful vampire that lead to her death and a brand new life of blood and brutality. She tried to run. She tried to hide. But Oleg Sokolov is a man who gets what he wants. Oleg has the ability to manipulate fire, the power to command an empire, and a will that cannot be broken. But political upheaval and blood loyalties have kept him from publicly claiming the woman who owns his heart. For five years, they've loved in private and played rivals in public. Tatyana has come into her own as a leader of an ancient immortal clan. And Oleg is a breath away from stomping out the brother who betrayed him. If he can play the right pieces in this political game, he might win the ultimate prize- publicly marrying the woman who is already his wife.
“There you are, my wife. My blood. The better half of my soul.”
Elizabeth Hunter’s final book in her vampire series The Firebird and the Wolf did not disappoint! From the beginning the story of Oleg Sokolov, the powerful and feared fire vampire and lord of the Kieven Rus, and his pursuit of the human bookkeeper, Tatyana Vorona, after she became embroiled in the treachery of his daughter made this a series I could not put down. Each previous book’s individual subplots, which were always full of action and suspense, ended with some closure but continued to carry and build the over-arching plot of this series. Obsidian Empire is the final culmination of this story, and it was, from beginning to end, a five-star read for me because of its page-turning pace and consuming romance!
“It will always be too many, my love. And yet, we will go on. Because death would be easy. So they did not choose death.”
Ivan, Oleg’s vampire brother and governor of the Moscow province of Oleg’s empire, has been covertly trying to garner his own following and subvert Oleg’s authority for centuries. While Oleg has been aware of Ivan’s actions, he has been reluctant to start another blood-bath power struggle that would most assuredly result in the death of many, both vampire and human. With Tatyana now a vampire, one of the three leaders of the nomadic Poshani clan, and secretly his wife and mate, Oleg feels compelled to protect more than just his own empire. Since Ivan truly believes that he is the rightful heir to the Kieven Rus empire Oleg may have no choice but war, with his mate potentially in the crosshairs. Tatyana might be young in the vampire world, but she is not a helpless and Ivan’s underestimation of her intelligence, determination, and love for her adopted people may be his downfall.
There is no doubt that Obsidian Empire is a great story in a great series, but the jewel in this Kokoshnik is the relationship between Oleg and Tanya. Their history was volatile and attraction unavoidable which has made and continues to make for some steamy interactions when they are together (and that’s not just because of their fire/water vampire affinities). Tatyana’s humble human background keeps her grounded as she matures into an amazing immortal: Tatyana le Tala, the warrior terrin of the Poshani, and bearer of the ruby goblet. She is the perfect complement to Oleg in every way. For Oleg he has finally found love; in his centuries of existence, he has never found anyone who can compare to her. She is the only one who has captured his heart completely and he is bound and determined that one day soon the world will know that she is the Knyagina of the Kieven Rus. If you want to find out for yourself how this story ends, I strongly suggest you get a physical copy of this and the other books in the series as the covers are all gorgeous! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Tanya’s love for books has been a lifelong passion that she likes sharing with others. Reading is also the thing that relaxes her after a day of juggling the many responsibilities that come with being being wife to an amazing man, mother to four great kids spread around the world, business manager, and farm hand on their place in southwest Missouri; home to Akaushi cattle and a menagerie of pygmy goats, horses, chickens, dogs and cats.
