I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley and Entangled Teen. All opinions are my own!

Content warnings: Physical abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal thoughts.

Harley has spent her life doing everything she can to protect her little sister from their abusive father. The moment she turns eighteen, they'll finally be free. But enter Draven - a mysterious boy who tells her that she's the key to a war between Heaven and Hell.

Ember of Night was heavy on the heart in so many ways! I adored this book and the way that Harley grew and came into who she has always wanted to be. Harley was such a relatable character in a way that's often hard to find in fantasy books, and I found myself rooting for her from page one.

Not only was Harley an amazing character, but Draven and his own story were such a beautiful mirror to Harley that it was breathtaking at times. Watching Draven and Harley learn from each other and grow through their pain and struggles was just so wonderfully done.

The one "issue" I had with this book was that I was able to predict part of the plot, which is usually something I am unable to do! That being said, I really enjoyed even that plot point because of the way that it was written and the way that it had me feeling for Harley and wanting her to overcome it all.

I greatly enjoyed Ember of Night, and I would highly recommend it for fantasy lovers!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ember of Night is full of twists turns and never ending action. The main character Harley is tough as nails, yet full of love, compassion and a spirit that drew me to her from the start.

Her love for her sister Ray, and her desire to protect her from the wrath of their father, no matter the cost is herself, reveals the extent of her love and self-sacrificing nature..

Harley's boss, Nathan, is a very positive parental figure in Harley and Ray's lives. It soon becomes apparent how deeply he cares for them both.

Harley is wary of trusting others, yet is instantly drawn to and quickly develops a deep bond with Draven. Her love towards her best friend Kai is evident, although eventually brought into question when she discovers his true identity and agenda.

The book ended with a shocking cliff hanger I did not see coming and left me wanting more. Does Ray have special abilities? Will Draven ever rescue his brother from hell? Who exactly is Harley's mom? Who are Ray's parents? What is to become of Harley? Is she truly the one Draven stated?

Eagerly awaiting book 2 to find the answers to these questions!

This was really interesting! It reminds me a lot of the older paranormal YA books from the early 2000's but it's written a lot better, is a bit more modern, and deals with some heavier themes.
I think including an abusive father to the plot was an interesting choice and the author did a good job of showing how the main character deals with all of this abuse. I also think it showed how strong she is despite all of these hardships she is overcoming.
The main character is also very independent and strong and it really shows.
I also really liked her and her sister's relationship. Despite not being full siblings, they still have this really strong bond.
And then the love interest was good too!
Overall this was a decent paranormal YA and I think the sequel will be interesting considering where the plot left off on.

I received an e-arc from Entangled Publishing and devoured it in two sittings. Ember of Night follows Harley, who is just trying to survive in the life that she’s given. Harley’s main goal is to make it to her 18th birthday so that she can get an apartment for herself and her little sister, Ray, to get away from their abusive father. As a birthday present, Harley’s best friend takes her to a concert at a club so she can have a night free of responsibilities. While enjoying herself on the dance floor she meets the incredible sexy Draven. They dance and flirt with each other on the dance floor before Draven disappears. Harley expects to never see him again... until he is the new hire at her job.

This book is perfect for fans of Tracy Wolff and Jennifer L. Armentrout. I loved the fast paced writing style, and the dynamic between Harley and Draven. I cannot wait for the next book to come!

I wanted to love this book I really did, the concept and story are unique, the pacing was good but I just couldn't get some annoying bits out of my head. This review will contain spoilers just so I can make my thoughts clear.

TW: Child abuse (descriptive...and frequent imo), alcoholism, parental abandonment

Ember of Night is about a young girl, Harley, and how she is introduced into a paranormal world with demons, divine beings, the creator, etc.. Harley is on the verge of turning 18 and can think of nothing but getting herself and her kid sister away from their alcoholic father and his severe abuse. Her mother left her as just a child and Harley has spent her whole life being abused by her father and being told how worthless and weak she is. She has very few people in her life she can count on, one of them her best friend Kai and her boss, Nathan, who is the best of example of a parental figure in her life.

Harley meets Draven, a "judge" for The Seven (a high council of The Divine...think angels, God, and all that) when Kai takes her out for her birthday to a club. Harley and Draven dance and flirt but she blows him off because she thinks that this is just one night of freedom, reality will come crashing down and she can't afford to start anything with anyone. She's rudely surprised when Draven turns out to be the new employee at the deli that Harley works at. But he is nothing like he was that night at the club. He's moody and inquisitive and she can't tell if he even likes her or wants to be friends or more. Draven opens her eyes to this whole new world of demons and other hellish beings when Harley starts to get attacked. Turns out her blood is actually the key to opening up the gates of hell. YIKES!

I thought Harley was okay as a character. Her concern for her sister and her dedication to getting them out of there was admirable. She really had no disregard about giving up her life for anyone of the people she loves, she thinks her life holds no value which was really sad. Her relationship with Draven in the beginning was annoying. One minute she says she enjoys their hot and cold relationship and then 6 pages later she says she's exhausted by it. The constant back and forth with them continues too long in my opinion...they do this make out then push away dance at least four times. His nickname for her was really bothersome, he over uses it and I'm sorry "honey badger" is just not cute. She trusts him too easily when he constantly tells her that he is not the good guy...which of course doesn't phase Harley. Their chemistry was good but I just couldn't love them to pieces.

Besides her relationship with Draven I was confused by how easy she thought taking custody of her sister would be. She thought just getting an apartment and having some money in her bank account would be all that it would take for a court to grant her custody. Maybe I'm just being cynical because I see these situations in real life but it was laughable how simple she thought it would be. And where is she getting all this money to afford paying double the rent for her father's place and the rent on an apartment at the same time? I know Nathan would pay her well but it's still work at a deli...how much could that be?

The ending was a bit confusing as well. When the ground opens up and Marid is coming up out of the ground and after Harley fights Kai she can just summon the Earth to close the hole and Marid falls back into Hell? That was a bit of a let down after such a build up but I guess with this being a series we need something to fight off in the second book.

I've never read Molly E. Lee before so I'm not sure if this a regular thing with her writing but the steamy scenes were really graphic for a YA read. I know Sarah J. Maas took a lot of liberties between YA and NA in her books but just a heads up, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 18. And also the abuse that Harley is put through by her father both mentally and physically is brutal and graphic so if that is something that is triggering for you please be aware, it's not something you can just skip over because it happens a few times and is hard to read.

I thought Ember of Night was an entertaining and fast paced read, there were just a handful of things that kept it from being a great read for me unfortunately.

Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for providing me with this e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Molly Lee nails this new take on the angels vs demons trope and does so, incredibly well. Harley wasn't expecting for her life to change in an instant or to realize those haunting stories of demons walking on Earth are real life- especially for a girl like her- a possible "key" to the Underground and or maybe the bringer of the apocalypse- just a regular day for a not so regular girl huh?! Throw in a hot demon who has been searching for the "key" for decades- but now that he's found her- he doesn't want to use her to get his brother back- now he wants to help her, save her, save humanity- and then maybe they can save his brother. It's a romance, it's a new type of fantasy, it's crazily enough sort of realistic- but all around fun and an enjoyable read. I loved the side characters and cannot wait to read the next book!

Have you ever read a book that enthralls you so you don't want to put it down, but it just overwhelms you to the point that you have to put it down at times? That was me with Ember of Night by Molly E. Lee. I am normally a really fast reader but this book took me days to read because I kept having to stop reading it because I just became overwhelmed by everything that was happening, but in the best way. This book draws you into the world and keeps you there, but since the concepts are on the darker side, if you are like me it can consume you.

I immediately had to give props to Molly and the rest of the team behind this book for putting a trigger warning at the beginning of this book, because it prepared me for some of the darker elements including abuse, both physical and emotional. If you are sensitive to this, please be careful reading this book. While this book handles it very well, it is a present aspect of character development. This book has a sequel coming out later this year (2021) and I am very excited to read it, especially after the ending.

Harley, the main character, grated on me at times throughout the book. I understood where she was coming from with certain aspects of her character, and it did make the end of the book that much more satisfying, but getting there was rough from time to time. All of the other characters in this book were also full and well rounded characters, and you either loved or hated them because they felt real. Finally, that ending. I loved that ending, even though it was a massive cliffhanger. I laughed maniacally at the ending and I am so looking forward to the sequel at the end of this year.

Overall I give this book a 4.5/5 - Some of it dragged a *tiny* bit for me, and some of it just was overwhelming so I put it down for time here and there, but overall it was so addicting that I had to just keep going back to it so I could finish and know what happened to everyone. I am very excited for the sequel and seeing what else happens in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had to sit and process this book for a good, long while after I finished. The last paragraph of this book had me shaking in my boots. I didn’t even know how to handle it. What a way to end a book! I am gobsmacked by that ending. Wow.

There’s a trigger warning i’d put out with this book. Note that there are discussions of parental abuse, alcoholism, death and physical abuse discussed in this book. I believe there’s one in the beginning, but I also wanted to put it on my review, just in case.

Harley is one of my favorite main characters I’ve read in fantasy in a while. There’s such a delicate balance that Molly is able to play into being her strength and the weakness from the years of her fathers abuse. When an older boy walks into her life and weird occurrences start happening, she’s thrust into a world where hell is real and the beasts from fairytales are trying to kill her. But is the boy who’s been protecting her also trying to kill her or is he really there to protect her?

This is such a quick read because once you start, you truly can’t stop. It’s addicting! It’s very reminiscent of the way I felt reading the Crave series! You get sucked into the world of Harley and Draven and never want to leave. The way Molly has paced the novel really aids how addicting it is! The character development is so well done and has so many different dynamics between them. I love watching the friendship with Kai grow, her sisterly bond with Ray and her budding relationship with Draven. All of it really balances out so well given you a book that you truly can’t put down! This is a can’t miss.

This is a unique tale for the YA paranormal genre. I don't think I've read a book solely about demons before, so I found the story interesting with that regard.

I do wish the world-building was a bit clearer, as many of the small info-dumps are a bit confusing and I'm still not sure I understanding everything. Hopefully the series will build upon that with the books to come.

But overall, this book is a good addition to any YA paranormal fans personal library.

When your life is hell you don’t think it can get any better or worse, that is until a hot guy appears, and suddenly demons start attacking you. All Harley ever wanted to do was turn 18, get legal guardianship over her sister, and finally escape her abusive father. Days before her 18th birthday her best friend takes her a concert where she runs into a gorgeous guy who is just as snarky as she is and just brings out something in her. Suddenly he shows up at her job as a coworker too. Demons start attacking her and suddenly her new mysterious coworker is saving her. Draven is hot and cold, constantly pulling and pushing Harley back and forth. One minute they are making out the next he’s telling her he’s dangerous and she should stay away from him. When Harley finds out she is a “key” and that demons will be hunting her down for her blood to open up a door that unleashes a demon, Draven volunteers to help her survive. Suddenly everyone in Harley’s life is not as they seem and she is starting to realize that there are more demons than she had previously thought. Suddenly angels and demons and wizards are real, and Harley is not as human as she thought, and she most definitely is not as weak as she thought.

I had fun reading this book. Harley is a great protagonist, she’s strong and caring and her will power is amazing. She has suffered, but she is willing to do everything for those she loves. She doesn’t give up and endures. She’s snarky and kind and I just really liked her as a character. The overall story was interesting, especially with the whole angels and demons, and key thing. The story is the first in the series and oh boy that ending...... like I cannot even with that last paragraph haha. I am looking forward to seeing where Harley goes on her journey and can’t wait to read the next book!

*Thanks Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Is supernatural your vibe, but you need a break from all the vampires? Then do I have a book recommendation for you. Harley is just your average teen trying to survive until her 18th birthday so she can get her and her sister out of the grasp of their father. Little does she know that she’s got a whole other thing coming. Turns out her blood holds the key to opening up Hell on Earth and starting a war between heaven and hell. Guess protecting her sister from their father isn’t the only task she’s gotta handle now. Oh and turns out her self-defense coach is one of these demons. Can Harley protect her sister and save Earth or will doomsday really happen?

Lee did an excellent job at balancing the Emerson into this supernatural and mythological world and keeping us grounded to the very real world that Harley still has one foot solidly planted in. At times I did feel a little overwhelmed by the mythology but it was always nicely balanced by a reactive scene to what was happening. If your are a fan of supernatural and paranormal stories you will be clawing you way to get hands on this one.

What do you do when you find out your entire life is a lie? And that you’re more powerful than you ever thought possible? Molly E. Lee’s ‘Ember of Night’ explores these themes and so much more. It’s a fast-paced, exciting beginning to a new YA paranormal series that already promises to be a wild ride.

Harley has never had a simple life. Left with her abusive father and her younger half sister, Ray, Harley lives and works to protect her innocent sibling. Harley can’t wait until the day she turns 18 so that they can make their escape from their evil father’s clutches. As her birthday approaches, she meets the mysterious Draven, and is drawn to him even as he tries to keep his distance. Instinctively, Harley knows there’s more to Draven than meets the eye, but she has no idea what world she’s about to step into.

Lee sets up an interesting mythology that is unlike anything I’ve read before, which kept my interest piqued throughout the story. Harley is a character who starts to come into her own power; she thinks she’s weak, but starts to change her own narrative. She starts to overcome the abuse of her past and see herself for who she really is. And while there are a few visceral scenes of abuse, they never feel exploitative or that they’re being used as a cheap narrative device.

The burgeoning relationship between Harley and Draven is also a delightful addition to the story. There’s a wonderful push-pull dynamic and a slow burn that will leave you begging for more.Though this is just the beginning to their story, the ending doesn’t feel too cliffhanger-y. In all, if you’re looking for a new YA PNR series, ‘Ember of Night’ is a great pick.

Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.