Between Two Fires

A book review on Christopher Buehlman's Sophmore Novel

So this took way longer than expected, I finished this book earlier this year and wrote a previous review on it but felt it was time for an updated one.

Song of The Day “Breathe-Michelle Branch” Perfect soundtrack as we settle into the fall.

I picked up Between Two fires after throwing It into my “Want to Reads” due to a recommendation that described it as “The book of Revelation meets Medieval fantasy.”

Yea, I thought the same thing- Badass.

So naturally I decided to dive in after finishing the Fellowship of The Ring (Which you can also read my review of HERE).

Im going to talk about this book as much and as little as I can, I don’t want to spoil anything about it because I do highly recommend it, so if this book review is a bit hollow I hope that I can convey the weight of how cool this book is.

Between Two Fires is the sophomore novel of author Christopher Buehlman.

This book grabbed me so aggressively, The story of Between Two Fires is a historical fiction that follows a disgraced knight and a mysterious girl that claims to see angles as they navigate France during the Black Plague. At the same time Lucifer and his army of devils begin to wage their war on Heaven.

I myself am not specifically religious, but I did grow up in the christian faith and am very familiar with the “End of Times” Story. For those who are not, I will explain.

In the Bible, the final book of the Bible is the Book of Revelation It is an apocalyptic story that describes prophetic visions about the end of the world given to a guy named John also including the divine judgment and the ultimate triumph of God over satan. The book is highly symbolic and is often interpreted in different ways historically, theologically, and metaphorically. The book serves as a warning, an encouragement, and a vision of hope for Christians, emphasizing that despite suffering and persecution, God will ultimately triumph over evil, and His followers will be rewarded in a new heaven and new earth. But for that to happen, there are many bridges to cross.

As a young man I did competitive bible quizzing. Essentially we studied various books of the New Testament (Because the old law is dead under the new lamb) and would gather to see how well we knew them. It was an extremely exciting and interesting time but the one book we never touched was the book of revelation. Mainly because while we were memorizing scripture we were also being taught the historical significance and the importance of these verses in our life. However, Revelations is very much open to interpretation so it was a banned book as far as quizzing goes.

So, Between Two Fires is a journey story, one that is both physical and spiritual. Thomas, a former knight stripped of his honor, becomes the reluctant protector of young girl, who claims to receive visions from heaven. Together, they travel through a plague-ravaged France, witnessing unspeakable horrors while confronting forces both human and supernatural.

Buehlman masterfully presents medieval history with supernatural horror, making the setting feel both authentic and terrifying. I often found myself a bit uneasy and my heart racing a few times while reading this book. The novel presents many ineffable theological questions.

Does God still watch over humanity?

Why does suffering exist?

While also exploring personal redemption through Thomas’s arc. The book’s title itself suggests a liminal state, a world caught between divine salvation and eternal damnation.

Buehlman’s prose is rich and easy to follow, immersing the reader in a world of decay and despair. His descriptions of the plague’s devastation are grotesque making the suffering almost palpable. The dialogue, particularly Thomas’s gruff sarcasm and old dog personality contrasted very well with the girl’s innocence, is sharp and engaging a bit comedic as well. I could compare it to the feeling of standing near a warm fire then walking away, there is such start contrast between the two it gives the reader an opportunity to fully indulge and enjoy both characters without one stealing the spotlight from the other.

The horror elements are deeply unsettling, not just because of their supernatural nature but also due to their grounding in historical reality the sheer brutality of the era really heightens the novel’s eerie tension and made me feel a bit anxious about what they were to do next.

Thomas is a deeply flawed yet compelling protagonist. He’s haunted by his past and initially driven by self-interest, his transformation over the course of the novel is both believable and heartbreaking. The girl, on the other hand,( I am not saying her name because you learn it in a cool way) is innocent she strongly creates this little lamb that you, even the reader want to protect and her presence is undeniably powerful. The supporting cast each serve as a reflection of humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and grace.

A gripping and thought-provoking novel no doubt that is able to flawlessly blend historical fiction with supernatural horror to stunning effect.

I found myself thinking about this book days after, even now months after. It lead me down a deep rabbit hole of ancient depictions of both satan and divine beings. (Which lead me to read Paradise Lost and Dante’s Divine Comedy, all though it was not all that funny) It was not hard to convey my thoughts and opinions on this book, while its bleak tone and graphic content may not be for everyone, those who look for literary horror with a philosophical depth will find much to admire. Buehlman delivers a haunting tale of faith, redemption, and the horrors of a world seemingly abandoned by God, making this a standout work in both historical and dark fantasy genres.

I have to rate this book a 4/5

I really enjoyed reviewing this book and I am not sure I would do more, but this book was so enthralling and enjoyable to read I just needed to talk about it.

P.S. The best depiction of hell I have ever seen or described in any medium ever, I spent the whole scene enthralled and marveling at the creativity being poured into such a graphic scene. I loved it!

Best,

Jack