A great story and characters will suck me in every time, no matter the genre. But I do have a weakness for PNR, SF, UF and I'll melt completely if you throw in some humour and a breathless romance.
Some clever details here - the fire spider, being able to reach into a book to withdraw any article/weapon that can fit through the page. However, the romance aspect of this read didn't work for me. Overall, an interesting approach.