This story revolves around Daria “Dasha” Avramov, a witch with a unique ability to banish demons and traverse the veil between worlds and Ivy Thorn.
Still Haunted by the loss of her parents and a painful breakup with Ivy Thorn, Dasha is both fiery and guarded.
But when she and Ivy are forced to work a festival,together some old sparks reignite amidst an otherworldly threat that could destroy Thistle Grove.
The romance that develops between Dasha and Ivy is sweet and passionate, while the relationships Dasha has with her family and other characters add depth and resonance to the story
The book also explores themes of grief, depression, and self-destructive behavior,
Rise and Divine is a fitting and satisfying end to a beloved series, leaving readers both enchanted and a little sad to say goodbye to Thistle Grove

Goodbye witches of Thistle Grove and thank you for a magical adventure! A must read series for witches and normies alike (:

A magical romantic comedy in a witchy small town full of powerful witches including necromancers, devil eaters, demon summoners and more.

Rise and Divine is the 5th and final book of Lana Harper's The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I have enjoyed this series and my time spent in the magical town of Thistle Grove with all of its witchy inhabitants.

This book follows Dasha who is both a Harlowe and an Amarov. She is a death eater who can also move on the other side of the Veil and struggles with the affinity for darkness and death within her.
This book was a bit darker (and spicer) than the others in the series but it made for a fitting finale with all the themes of light and dark, life and death and love.

Dasha and Ivy are a very light versus dark couple and I found that I was rooting for them and really felt like they helped balance each other out. I was a bit more into the overall storyline than I was the actual romance but given this was the final book, it had a lot to cover plot wise so not was definitely more front and center.

Loved seeing characters from all the families (and previous books) joining us in this final one for a fond farewell.

"Rise and Divine" by Lana Harper is a captivating blend of magic, romance, and self-discovery that draws readers into its enchanting world. The richly developed characters and their intricate relationships add depth to the storyline, making their journeys feel genuine and relatable. Harper's lush prose brings the vibrant setting to life, immersing readers in a beautifully crafted universe. The themes of empowerment and transformation resonate throughout, offering a thoughtful exploration of identity and choice. Overall, this novel is a spellbinding read that leaves a lasting impression long after the final page.

I loved the first few books in this series, but I just couldn't get into this one. I was bored out of my mind and ended up skimming the last 60%.

It took me a good long while to to get into this book. I kept picking it up then putting it back down, I just couldn’t connect. Luckily I stayed with it! Welcome to the last book in the Thistle Grove series! This is Dasha, who is a devil eater, and Ivy, who is one of the Green witches of the Thorn family, second chance at love story. Ahh, but first they must deal with a giant demon trying to break through the veil, an amnesiac mundane Dasha finds wandering alone by their magical lake, and the actual Lady of the Lake Belissima coming to them for help. All of this coincides with the annual Cavalcade that celebrates the founding of the town by the four magical families.
Perfect timing!
**Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy the ARC of this book.**

Big sad feels right now because one of my favourite witchy series is finally over. I’ve bonded with so many people over this series and it’s been truly a comforting experience. Lana writes such thematically and emotionally rich stories that despite being fantasy adjacent they feel real. Loved !!!

This next chapter in this Thistle Grove series focuses on Dasha Avramov, a devil eater, and her desire to to get back together with her ex, Ivy Thorn. When they are tasked with planning the annual festival together, it seems like Dasha might have her chance. However, when one of the festival goers is possessed by a demon, it may be down to Dasha and her talents to save the town. Overall, a good addition to the series that continues to reveal the town's history and connections between the magical families. This one seemed to focus more on the magic and the town, rather than the romance.

Full of magic, grief, love, and second chances, Rise and Divine follows Dasha as she navigates her unique powers, a new mysterious threat, and the lure of the other side of the veil to save her town and loved ones.

I absolutely LOVED the witchy, spooky vibes of this book! It swept me away instantly, and I was immersed in this read. I also adored the second-chance romance and definitely want to go back and read the other books in this series!

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I hear this is the last book in the series? Say it isn't so! I have absolutely enjoyed every one of the books. This one was really good. Dasha was a character that really was interesting to me. It was entertaining and touching. I'm sad to see the end of this series.

Daria's power to eat devils makes her unique among the witches of Thistle Grove but comes with some complications when living on the material plane. When a dark force threatens the town, Daria and her ex Ivy come together to fight the invader.

I really like the town of Thistle Grove and it's supernatural inhabitants. I did feel like I was missing some of the background info or these characters (presumably within another novel that I missed reading.) The lore was excellent.

Rise and Divine by Lana Harper is a captivating blend of fantasy and romance that draws readers into a world filled with magic, intrigue, and complex relationships. From my perspective, the world-building is lush and immersive, with Harper crafting a rich tapestry of mystical elements that feel both fresh and familiar. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, as she navigates her newfound powers and the intricate dynamics of those around her. The romance element is heartfelt, though at times it can feel overshadowed by the larger magical plot.

While the novel delivers plenty of twists and excitement, there are moments where the pacing dips, making some sections feel slower than others. However, the strength of Harper's writing and her ability to balance magical and emotional stakes keeps the story engaging. F

Our last time in Thistle Grove focuses on Dasha (an Avramov-Harlow daughter, though heavily leaning the former in affinity) and Ivy (a clear and classic Thorn). They’ve had a rocky history, with some of Dasha’s personal challenges getting in the way of the more lasting connection that they both want. Dasha’s ability – she’s a devil eater – means she crosses the veil quite a bit while banishing demons. And despite what one might think, it feels good to be there; after both her parents’ deaths, Dasha struggled to find reasons to stay in the real world. She made it through that, barely. Now, her ability and will are about to be put to the test because the biggest celebration in Thistle Grove, one that comes only every 20 years, is invaded by the shade of a dark, chaotic god…and Dasha may be the only one who can save the town. Oh, and her connection with Ivy might be the only thing that is strong enough to help her survive it, so thank goodness their time spent together planning the festival has rekindled some of the sparks between them.

Ok if I’m being honest, this romance wasn’t necessarily my favorite of the bunch. It was solid, and Dasha and Ivy seem like they are a good fit for each other, but the fact of their on-again/off-again past means that some of the on-page development of their relationship felt lacking. It was easy for Harper to fall into “they fit together so well” and “they knew each other already,” with only a few new confessions/vulnerabilities, so it did feel a bit shallower than it otherwise might have. However, that meant the spicy scenes were very smooth, no awkward newness, which is sometimes nice. I enjoyed it here. And to be fair, the connection between Dasha and Ivy was clear, and solid. So there wasn’t anything wrong with the romantic aspects here, they just felt less robust/more background to the plot, than in some of the previous books.

Speaking of the plot…it was eventful! There was possession and visitations from gods (beneficent and otherwise) and mysteries and festival events and all the classic Thistle Grove magics. And it culminated with a really well written coming together of all those magics, a cooperation and communication that was a (literally and figuratively) enchanting way to leave these families, who had been quite a bit more antagonistic towards each other when we first met them. The way this story really centered on the clashing of primordial godlike forces – creation and destruction – fit right, as a finale. It explained some of the mysteries about town, and sources of magic there, that hadn’t been covered yet. And it increased the drama to an extreme that made for both an entertaining big finish and a satisfying place to stop (there’s really nowhere to grow the story from here, tbh).

I also enjoyed, as a thematic element, the look at oppositional gods: forces created to be pulled toward each other, but never able to actually meet the needs of the other. It’s a fascinating and humanizing look at a divine mythology that’s captivated the entire world since its birth and, conceptually, I found it really interesting. All that power and no capacity to change…it’s surprisingly static/flat, while humanity gets all the dimensionality. What a reframe.

And because those plot elements were so larger-than-life, it was nice that the romance was a bit…smaller. It provided some space for the small things to shine, and I loved that. There was a sweet and tender highlighting of the power of the precious small parts of life – a favorite breakfast, a perfectly green leaf and wind in your hair, the smell of a fall candle – those fragile and easily overlooked, but comforting, parts. The way they can stand up to the ostentatious and extravagant and gluttonous and overbearing feelings of life, and provide a safe harbor from that, bringing solace, was a bit like reading a contented sigh. Which was a great balance to bring as a foil to the big emotions, reactions, and events of the rest of the story.

As I mentioned at the start, this was a very satisfying series finale to this series. I’ve loved being in Thistle Grove throughout it all, and I’m sad to see it end, but I’m also content leaving it here. And that’s really all I could have asked for in a closing book. I tip my hat (as it were) to Lana Harper. Thanks for this journey.

This series has been a whirlwind adventure and I’ve loved every minute of it. The town is a perfectly magical, fall oasis that I wish I could drop into. I loved the lore and magic systems, as well as the unique but intertwined family dynamics. So many queer characters with complex personal and family histories, who all ultimately just want to find love. This was a delight from start to finish, and perfect to start off October.

Thanks to Berkley, NetGalley and PRH Audio for the DRC/ALC.

I am so sad to say goodbye to the witches of Thistle Grove but what a way to end the series!! Dasha has always been a character that has fascinated me throughout the series and I was so happy to drive into this book. I really enjoyed her development and self discovery. I loved That Ivy came back and that she was able to open up her heart to her again. I think that their relationship while super strained at first developed into something really beautiful. I was happy to see Dasha open up and finally explain her feelings and what she went to to Ivy. The mystery surrounding the lake and the Goddess at the bottom has always been an interesting part of this series and it was cool to see it come to fruition in this book. As usual the Thistle Grove witches rose to get her and were able to defeat the threat to their town. While I am sad to see this series end I am excited to read them again back to back!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really liked this fifth book in the Thistle Grove series! It matched the tone of the first book well and although I haven't read the other books in the series, it seems like it built on existing character relationships well. I was immediately drawn into the story on page one and I finished the book in one day, I genuinely could not put the book down (sorry to my schoolwork)! I loved Dasha so much and her personal motivations and character flaws were so real to me. I also adored Ivy and Amrita. All of the interactions between the characters in this story were so well characterized and the dialogue was extremely well written. I was also very happy to be back in the Thistle Grove world. Rise and Divine is also the perfect book for fall/ spooky season! Cannot recommend more.

I absolutely love this series. It's so so good and queer and sometimes it's perfect for when you just want a silly romantic and cozy fantasy.

I am sad that this is the last book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. I joined this journey at book three, thanks to an ARC from NetGalley, which means, I still get to read books one and two before my journey fully ends.

This was a great ending to the series. I loved how it all came together and I look forward to reading more of Lana Harper's work in the future.

I loved this fifth installation in the Witches of Thistle Grove series!! This book is an FF exes-to-lovers romance which was written really well. I loved the MC, and the themes around grief, depression, and mental health were well done. There was also no third act breakup which I love to see, but I wanted a bit more talking from Dasha and Ivy when they eventually got back together. Otherwise, this book was fun, enchanting, and action-packed while delivering the same Thistle Grove magic and charm we know and love! 4.5 rounded up.

🌈Queer rep: FF main relationship, bi/pan main character, queer female love interest. Secondary nonbinary character, F/NB relationship, lesbian characters, bi/pan female characters, FF relationships.