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

What a fantastic start to what looks to be an epic series! The world of Emarion is a cutthroat fantasy world of the haves (Descended) and have nots (mortals). Diem, our FMC, is a have not, but with a mysterious past and some traits that set her apart from other mortals. Luther, our MMC, is one of the Descended, in fact the one in line for the crown. Enemies to lovers plus slow burn romance, love it!

I enjoyed the introduction to the world of the Descended Houses with all the competing interests and politics against simple volume of gifted power, and the juxtaposition of that against that of the common, magic-less mortals. Definitely only got to scratch the surface of the world in the first book, but the map and little lines introducing each kingdom shows very intriguing room for growth!

I appreciate that the characters are not wholly good or bad, there’s a lot of morally gray going on here and differing goals and priorities based on their place in Emarion. Diem irritated me at times, but that’s what makes her so relatable! And I absolutely love the little brother Teller and his whole relationship with the Descended world, it’s a great bridge that I think really makes the story come together.

That epilogue had me so intrigued to know what comes next - I have already started Glow, and so glad the final book will be out before I get to it, as Penn Cole clearly is adept at the cliffhanger ending! And then I will likely reread soon because I have a feeling I am going to want to find the Easter eggs I know she’s sprinkling about 🙂

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

I'd seen this book all over fb and bookstagram, everyone was raving about it. I'd put it on my tbr some time ago, but always hesitated to start it. I worried it was too hyped up and it wouldn't be what I was expecting. Boy was I wrong! From the very first chapter I was intrigued. The characters are easy to love/hate, their paths are filled with emotion that is easily conveyed to the reader, the storyline unique and twisty! I've been a romantasy reader for some time now so it's rare to find myself surprised, but truly I didn't not see that ending coming! Super excited to start book two, if you're thinking about picking this book up, do it!

I started this book on a whim, having seen it recommended in an Instagram reel. I had no preconceived ideas about it, and no idea whatsoever what it was about, but I trusted the person who recommended it. Well. WELL. Thank the Gods old and new that I did. I loved this book with every fiber of my being. I loved this book so much that I immediately downloaded the next two and also purchased the physical copies. For anyone in a book rut, just trust me and read this.

Our story is centered on Diem Bellator, a mortal healer who has been trained by her extremely accomplished mother. The mortals live in relative poverty under the thumb of the Descended, a magical race whom live in luxury mere miles from the squalor to which the mortals are relegated. When her mother mysteriously disappears Diem is compelled to take up her mantle and become the healer for the Descended royalty at their palace, a world from which her mother had blatantly kept her. As she spends more time at the Descended palace and she becomes acquainted with their surly but alluring prince Luther Carbois, Diem begins to experience an internal struggle between the person she wants to be and the one she fears she’ll become. Will she remain faithful to the Mortal rebellion she’s hastily committed herself to? Or will she turn to the Descended whom she is quickly realizing may not be quite the villains she’s been led to believe? Where is the strange voice in her head coming from, and why does it want her to FIGHT so badly? Where has her mother gone and what are the secrets she’s been keeping for so many years?

Penn Cole is second to none at world building and character development. Not even our reigning Romantasy Queen SJM. Her world is superbly fleshed out, no corner is left unexplored and she does it in such a way that you never feel that exposition is being forced down your throat. Diem is the strong, sarcastic and feisty FMC we all love to love, and Luther is smoldering, mysterious perfection. The side characters are all richly nuanced as well, with very few absolute “bad guys” or “good guys”.

I can’t even honestly say there was anything about this book I truly didn’t like. There are DEFINITELY characters I despise, but that’s a necessary evil, and at first I wasn’t thrilled with the possibility of a love triangle involving Diem’s childhood best friend-turned-lover Henri and our Shadow Daddy Luther (as a disclaimer, I generally despise love triangles,) but this issue became a nonissue for me pretty quickly, and although this series is shaping up to be the slowest of slow burns I have great faith that the payoff will be well worth the wait.

I am a voracious reader. I’ve been consuming stories for as long as I can remember but I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve had a reaction so visceral, so extreme and so immediately to a series. I feel like this story will fundamentally change the way I see the world, and that my friends is very rare and VERY valuable. Please read this book. Please trust me the way I trusted that instagrammer. You won’t be sorry.

I’m a very critical reader and throne of glass is my Roman Empire right now. I wasn’t insanely impressed with crescent city or ACOTAR so no I’m not just a SJM fanatic. The writing in this book is phenomenal, the story intriguing and the world building and character development was good. Some characters get on my nerves but such is life when you get invested in a good book. This hit the mark and kept me very interested. First book I’ve read since TOG that has been worth a written review. 9/10 would recommend and my only critique is that the entire book is basically world and character building and setting the stage for the main problem. Very little action or plot development by the end but left me feeling like the next book will be fire.

Wow, I had heard good things about this book but I was really blown away.

It has so many of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers(?), political intrigue, a neat magic system, awesome FMC, and a sloooooow burn. This is very much a book I wish I had read sooner. I don't know why I was putting it off.

If you're in a reading slump, read this book. If you're in a post ACOTAR/TOG, etc., slump, read this book!!! I haven't been gripped by a romantasy book, let alone an indie pub, in so long. Truly busted me out of a hardcore reading slump. I could have stayed up all night finishing this.

"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.

I honestly picked up this book because I have seen it all over my bookstagram. I truly had no idea what this was about and I went into this book completely blind. I am so glad I did because it was so dang good. The world and character building are so good in this. I love a good slow burn romance and wow this is was going sloooowww lol. But I did love the interactions between Luther and Diem. At least what we got to see. I am eager to see more of them in the coming books. This was such a fun and captivating read. While there is a lot going on, I never felt like I was confused or lost in translation.

This book does end on a cliffy, so be prepared to have the second book on hand immediately. You will want to jump right in! The ending literally had my jaw on the floor!

I thought this book was okay. I did have issues visualizing the world in detail and the characters. There were times things were skimmed over that felt needed more detail such as; the city and the palace and where Diem lives and the town they visited. I felt like I was watching a movie but through a blurred lens. I still cant really tell you how Diem looks 🤷‍♀️. But this may be a me issue as I do like details in stories to help me visualize and be absorbed into the world. With this one I never felt consumed.

SPOILERS

The “love” story was meh. I didn’t feel invested at all. I suppose the author is setting it up for book 2. There was hardly any spice, so if spice is what you want, you wont find it here. There was one good scene in the beginning and after that, nothing much.

There was a love triangle here without it being mentioned… and I think thats a big YA trope. 🙄

Prince Luther and Diem’s chemistry was so silly and unbelievably annoying. I get that comes with these types of books but I felt it could have been handled better. The build-up to their enemies to lovers was just a big no for me. It provided nothing at all. It also did not help they talked like tweenies even though they were over 20 years old and Prince Luther was an old God (🙄). Their last scene was steamy but nothing happened. Prince Luther kisses Diem and they make out then Diem says:

Quote: ““I don’t know who you think I am,” I panted as I tried to piece my anger back together from its shattered fragments. “There are plenty of people in Mortal City who will happily spread their legs for a rich Descended suitor, but I am not one of them.”

Girl stop it… she has been fantasizing about this. Lol

Anyway, Diem got away with soo much and I get it was to set up the chemistry between her and Prince Luther but it was moments like that I massively rolled my eyes and just started to dislike them both and whatever the author was trying to do.

Example; in one scene a guard does something bad and prince Luther has to punish them… “The people in this palace must learn, one way or another, that there are consequences for disobeying me.” Yet Diem has gotten away with sooo much more.

Such as refusing to give up her weapon, while on palace grounds and fighting the guards, running around unguarded and hiding to obtain palace secrets, back talking to Prince Luther, even almost fighting him… but she goes unscathed and unpunished but this poor guard does what he can to defend the palace and royalty against Diem’s threats yet he gets punished? 🙄

Anyway, I think the overall story, in terms of the magic was interesting not much was given so who knows how it works. Unfortunately, I wont continue the series as what was offered was not enough for me to continue it. The characters were not fleshed out and the romance was silly 🤷‍♀️, so nothing intrigues me to continue.

This was a 3.0 ⭐️ Romance: 👎 Spice: 🚫 Characters: 👎 Setting: 🤷‍♀️ lack of description Magic system: not much was given