Spark of the Everflame: The Kindred's Curse Saga, Book 1

I started this book at lunch one day and got to chapter 2. I then came home from work around four pm and started reading it again, and finished it at eight pm. Spark of the Everflame is probably one of my favorite books that I have ever read.This book is so well written. The inner monologue of the main character is really good, and I really love the Penn Cole’s writers voice. Everything just flows so naturally and it’s a super fun read. I didn’t want to stop reading it (obviously I didn’t)The flow of the story was good, and the way that the character makes decisions. Sometimes I was like “Oh my gosh, why?” and I could feel Diem’s anger and emotions. Some of her decisions -though I didn’t always agree with them- kept me on the edge of my seat and brought much more intrigue to the storyline.The characters are all very strong and standout. Diem’s snarky attitude is perfect, and so is her will to fight and be heard. In Henri you can see the fervent core beliefs that he lives by. He tries to protect her from his world at first, then he’s proud of her cause he thinks she believes the same things he does. I love the Prince Luther. He’s so broody and larger than life in Diem’s eyes. I love that you can see that he cares about Diem. Even Diem’s familial relationships are written so well and are so strong. You want her dad to be proud of her, you want her little brother to be in the gifted school, you want her teacher Maura to believe in her. The character conversations are excellent. The characters are what pull you into the story, and make you feel like you are right there with Diem.The world building is beautiful. The author describes the beauty of the Descended castle and town, the mortal slums and all its smells. It’s very easy to build a picture of what Diem is seeing in your minds eye.The storyline is really good. There’s no super clear antagonist (yet). There are some antagonistic characters throughout the story, but there’s not a specific antagonist. However the story builds up like it’s going to have one. If you look at it – the war that is brewing and the fighting between the mortals and the Descended is the antagonistic part of the story, which I really like. But the storyline is still clear – bad things are happening to her and she is trying to adjust and fight. It’s just so good.Like I said, this has got to be one of my favorite books that I’ve read, and definitely one of my top books of 2023.The spice is really good – it’s tastefully done and hasn’t gotten super spicy yet, but it’s so good. 2 or 3/5 on the spice scale. 5/5 stars. I recommend this for anyone who loves the MC finding power within themselves, enemies to not-quite-lovers, (but the feelings are there), and found power. It’s just a really great read with a great storyline, a beautiful world with strong characters that you get attached to so quickly.It comes out June 1st – and I recommend it!I received a free copy of this book from the author - all opinions and review is completely voluntary and 100% honest

First of all, I did enjoy this book. I think the magic and caste system is interesting. I like the characters and the plot. My only issue is the timeline. The story kind of felt directionless for me for a while. I feel like quite a bit of what happened wasn’t very necessary and the middle half could have been cut out. I will say it was worth it for the ending, which I did like! Looking forward to reading the next one.

I picked this up on a whim then devoured itThis book is incredibly well-written. Penn Cole’s narrative voice is captivating, and the inner monologue of the main character is both engaging and authentic. The flow of the prose is seamless, making it an absolute pleasure to read—I couldn’t put it down.I particularly love Prince Luther—his brooding, larger-than-life presence, and his evident care for Diem make him an intriguing character. Diem’s relationships with her family and teacher are equally well-developed, drawing you into her world and making you root for her.The world-building is beautifully done. The vivid descriptions of the Descended castle, the mortal slums, and their respective atmospheres paint a clear picture of Diem’s world, making it easy to visualize.The storyline is engaging, with a brewing war and tensions between the mortals and the Descended serving as the central conflict. While there isn’t a clear-cut antagonist, the story’s structure builds suspense and intrigue as Diem navigates the challenges she faces. It’s a compelling narrative with a clear direction, and it’s incredibly well-crafted.Overall, Spark of the Everflame is definitely one of my top books of 2024. The romance is tastefully done, with a touch of spice that adds to the story without overwhelming it—about 2 or 3 on the spice scale. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy stories about a protagonist discovering their inner strength, enemies who aren’t quite lovers, and a richly detailed world with strong characters, this book is a must-read.

"Spark of the Everflame" by Penn Cole had been on my TBR for ages, and thanks to a nudge from a friend, I finally jumped in. This book is a fantastic introduction to The Kindred's Curse Saga, plunging you into a world where mortals and gods collide. The Descended, the ruthless offspring of the gods, hold the power, keeping mortals in their place. If you're into slow-burn fantasy with a cliffhanger, this book is for you.Diem Bellator is a young woman who dreams of escaping her small village. When her mom vanishes without a trace, she's suddenly thrown into a world of Descended royalty, sinister secrets, and a political landscape full of danger. As she navigates this new territory, Diem finds herself surrounded by allies that are less than trustworthy and complex relationships that are anything but straightforward.Every interaction between Diem and the king's enigmatic heir is charged with energy and tension. There is an undeniable pull with him and she doesn’t know why. At the same time, she’s struggling to understand if her childhood best friend, who seems like the obvious choice is the person she should spend the rest of her life with. This story is all about the slow burn, the suspense, and the carefully orchestrated moments that will keep you eagerly flipping the pages.The world-building is refreshing, not overly complex, and was perfect for me who needed a book with a lighter mental load. The magic system is unique, and the characters are layered, each hiding their own secrets. There's plenty of action, mystery, and intrigue, and just when you think you have it all figured out, the book hits you with an epic cliffhanger. You'll want the 2nd book ready right away.

Uma história cativante, não consegui parar de ler e acabou daquele jeitinho especial que a gente fica desesperado pra continuar

For readers who loved Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles, this is your next favourite read. The Kindred's Curse Saga will be one of the next big series in fantasy romance we are all talking about and its organic, quick rise in popularity is a true reflection of how amazing this book is. It's a polished, high-quality, irresistible just-one-more-page read that, in my opinion, immediately launched Penn Cole into the big league of the genre.The slow burn of this romance was absolutely masterful. From now on, if someone asks me for the best slow-burn with the most well-orchestrated and deft escalation of tension, I will hand them this book. Spark of the Everflame was an excellent, refreshing take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. The antipathy between Luther and Diem is structural and based on a distrust between the Descended and mortals. When they start to get to know each other, their feelings start shift in a natural way. Because it's so real, it's very easy to become totally engrossed in their story!Penn Cole's world building is so great - unique lore around gods and goddesses, history of conflict and the origin stories, the culture of each country, the politics dividing Descended and mortal peoples and the politics between Crowns, the different magics of each kingdom and their physical manifestations. It's so creative and it's just so cool! For all the nerds who loved Greek mythology and romantasy based off of Greek mythology, this really hits home. It's especially impressive that everything in the lore is completely original.I love Diem! There are moments when Diem discovers her own powers through the strength of her character, her unwillingness to back down, and the fight inside of her that gave me chills. You have to love a hero who is the only one in the room to stand up and fight back and never say die. Spark of the Everflame, despite being high fantasy, is very character driven. There are lots of fully fleshed out characters with their own voice, motivations, and believable backstoriesThis book was so well edited. The plotting was perfect - the story never dragged and the action build very nicely. The story never moved so quickly that you were confused about what was happening. The tone of the writing was that of a very experienced, talented author; the story unfolded beautifully with excellent foreshadowing and plot twists! The explosive action was heart pounding!This book absolutely stayed with me long after I had finished it and I couldn't wait to read the next. Highly, highly recommend!

A divided world, the balance tipped heavily to one side. A mortal healer. A cold immortal prince. Together, will they set the world ablaze?It is a tempestuous tale of identity, love and redemption. The story unfolds in a realm of mortals ruled by immortal descendants. There are themes of oppression, rebellion and heroism. At the core, is a combustible tension between Diem and Luther, their destinies intertwined amidst a realm teetering on the precipice of revolution.The world-building in this book is intricate showing us the rich tapestry of magic, hierarchy, and societal unrest. All are brought to life through vivid descriptions and a well-defined history. The characters are multifaceted and relatable, beautifully delivered through their motivations, fears and desires.The plot maintains a constant sense of intrigue, leaving readers eager to uncover all the secrets each page has in store. This truly puts you in a conflict of wanting to devour the pages or read slower to savour every word.This story has captivated me, I am not complaining about the slow burn as there is plenty of substance to keep me hooked and yearning for more. A fiery tapestry of love and what must be will be.I give abundant "thank you" to the book gods that the 2nd book is out.

En av de bästa bokserier jag läst.

Warum gibt es keinen größeren Hype um diese Serie??? Ich persönlich feiere die Bücher um Diem und Luther wirklich sehr. Für mich reiht es sich auf gleicher Höhe zu Forth Wing ein...vielleicht sogar noch ein bisschen besser, weil ich die slow burn Romanze zwischen Diem und Luther schöner, spannender, tragischer und romantischer finde.Tolles Charakter-Building, sehr schön ausgearbeitete Welt - oder eher zwei Welten, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten. Herzerwärmende Beziehungen, spannende Handlungen, eine unheimlich sympathische Protagonistin mit einer sehr kurzen Zündschnur, was immer öfter zu witzigen Wortwechseln und Sticheleien führt.Und ein wahnsinnig spannender Cliffhanger.Ich kann diese Serie nur empfehlen und sogar auf Englisch ist sie wunderbar zu lesen.