Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite writers today. This Alvin Maker fantasy series did not disappoint me. I read one after the other until I finished them all.

First I'd like to concur with many of the other reviewers here on Amazon.. the cover of this book is absolutely horrific. Besides being way to romance novel-like for any man to bring out in public, it also has no bearing on the story. Whatever is happening on the cover certainly doesn't portray any scene from the book, so my only question is "What the hell were the producers thinking, and how did OSC let this happen??"

But whatever, on to the book itself. Without a doubt this is the least inspiring and enjoyable book of the series so far. Mostly unimportant-seeming, the events chronicled here come off as being filler for the series. I'm not sure if Card just wasn't certain about where he needed to go with this story and had to publish something, or if he really believed a whole novel would be required to introduce a couple more characters and add detail to a bit more of his fantasy realm. Either way, this novel comes off as being short and inconsequential. The story as a whole doesn't seem moved forward very much from where it was after the third book in the series.

All that being said, I still give this book a generous rating because of Card's wonderful writing. The characters and their banter are still remarkably enjoyable, with Calvin, Arthur Stuart, Verily Cooper, and Honore Balzac providing most of the entertainment. You really find yourself caring for these fictional characters in this series, and that is no different in this book. Card obviously loves the characters he's created here, its just too bad he can't seem to determine what will happen to them.

You'll finish this book in just a couple of days, so its well worth your time, just don't expect it to bring too much progress to the story.

After slogging through the fourth book, I was wary of reading HEARTFIRE, the fifth book in the Alvin Maker series - but I bought the book and I was determined to finish it. If you consider reading this book, the Harlequin Romance-esque cover should be your first tip-off.

This book starts with newlyweds Alvin and Peggy separated with no real explanation given, Peggy has gone south to try and stop the coming war caused by slavery, and Alvin finds himself on trial - AGAIN. Basically an anti-slavery rant, the characters talk incessantly and nothing happens. Too boring for words.

There is another book after this one, can this series possibly get any worse?

Card's `Alvin Maker' series takes us down an alternate timeline to a pre-industrial America where magic, religion, and science compete for ascendancy. If you haven't read the first two volumes: `Seventh Son' and `Red Prophet' leave this page now and go check them out. Not only will further installments make little sense without that background, but they're nowhere near as good, and `Heartfire' is certainly no exception. The bottom line on the series is this - if you liked `Alvin Journeyman' you'll probably like `Heartfire', too. It features the same characters, and yet another courtroom drama, and no particular progress towards any specific goal. If you were disappointed enough by `Journeyman' that you're considering abandoning the series altogether, there's nothing in this book that you just have to come back for.

This reviewer has to admit to still being hooked despite the serious drop-off in quality since the series' inception. Card's "knack" lies in keeping us interested even when the plot doesn't seem to be gong anywhere. One still wants to know what comes next, perhaps optimistically thinking that he'll take us somewhere worthwhile if we just stick with him long enough. As of this writing, the series is still incomplete, so perhaps there's still hope. But the hope lies with Card's talent, and not in this scattered installment.

It's getting colse to the end and I don't want it to end. Great book.