I loved this so much the magic system was amazing as well as the characters the way she sets up the information between the two sides and the enemies to lovers side of it so damn good can’t wait to get a physical copy

I was excited to see a new Catherine Doyle book, and the Dagger and the Flame did not disappoint.

This fun and fast paced romantasy had the perfect blend of black magic, political intrigue, personal vendettas, and enemies to lovers romance. Doyle did a wonderful job in building this world and its various factions, whilst creating a captivating, fast paced and easy read. I loved fiery, strong and headstrong Sera, and only slightly less fiery, but reflective and conflicted Ransom. I found the ending entirely satisfying, and will eagerly await the next instalment in this series.

Thank you Simon and Schuster (Australia) and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Three stars

In the city of Fantome, the streets are run by two Orders: the Daggers, a group of mysterious assassins who will kill anyone for a price, and the Cloaks, a collective of crafty thieves who can steal anything from anyone. Both control the use and distribution of a magical substance known as Shade while can bend shadows to the will of the person using it. The Daggers use Shade consume Shade so that they can kill anyone by touch alone, while the Cloaks use wear Shade-magic to make items including—you guessed it—Cloaks to render themselves invisible, allowing them to steal easily.
But Shade and its dark magic has a price, and it's not just coin. It's lives.

The Dagger and the Flame follows Seraphine, a newly orphaned 17 year old who seeks refuge with the Order of Cloaks when she has no where else to go, and Ransom, an assassin who is next in line to head up the Order of Daggers.
When Seraphine's Shade-smuggling mother is assassinated, Sera vows to avenge her death, and she'll use her own unique magic to do it—much to the annoyance of Ransom, whose next mark is none other than the farmgirl (as Ransom so often calls her) herself. Sera is so much more than Ransom bargained for, and before long their game of cat and mouse becomes a more volatile game of love, and revenge.

I was really excited to read this book, but it took me a while to get into it. Once the pace picked up and more characters were introduced I felt a bit more swept up in the plot, but not enough.
Unfortunately, there was just too little of side characters that I enjoyed on page, and the side characters that became integral to the ending of the book never made enough of an impact on me to care about them.
In terms of the main characters, I felt that Sera could've been further developed, because I didn't quite connect with her, but I did want more of Ransom's story. I enjoyed how Doyle wrote a broody, quicksilver-eyed boy who'd lost everything, and who'd trained from the age of ten to one day take over an empire of assassins, whether he liked it or not. Though Ransom didn't claim a spot in the MMC hall of fame, he was still enjoyable and often funny.

Which is one of this book's strong points: it had me laughing.
It should be 100% macabre to pray to a woman whose corpse you've just robbed, but it was kind of hilarious that Sera did, after she'd not only robbed the woman's literal skeleton of her personal diary, but also made out with her enemy immediately afterwards while still in the—and I cannot emphasise this enough—TOMB of said woman. A truly bold and altogether out of pocket move. I was disturbed and entertained.

I think one of the issues with this book is that the Sera and Ransom aren't enemies for long enough. They're obsessed with each other straight away, but they're too close to an insta-love kind of obsession for me to feel like this fits the enemies-to-lovers bill. Even when robbing a tomb together it was clear that they were in love rather than enemies at all, so it was hard to buy into them even being accomplices out of convenience when at that point I think Ransom would've done just about anything for Seraphine to even blink in his direction.

Towards the three quarter mark of the book I was already pretty sure that little could make me hungry for a book two. The Shade-magic felt a little too underdeveloped to keep me interested, so I just wanted the main story to wrap up by the end of the book, so I could move on to something else.
Having finished the book, even with it ending as it did, I still feel like the book could have naturally concluded after chapter 44, with Sera and Ransom following through on their plan to run away and probably needing 50 pages or less to wrap things up in a neat bow and give the pair a happily-ever-after. Or unhappily, if that's Doyle's intention.

I think if you enjoy the writing style of Leigh Bardugo, or if you're a fan of books like A Tempest of Tea you'd probably love this book. It just wasn't for me.

3.5 stars

When Seraphine’s mother is murdered, she flees in the middle of the night and runs until she finds refuge among the Cloaks, an underground community of thieves who wield shade-magic. The Daggers behind her mother’s death still have eyes on her thought in the city of Fantome where the young heir to the Order of the Daggers has been tasked with finishing the job. The closer the two get, the more they discover they’re all at risk from a larger threat.

I thought this book was okay. There was definitely some originality to the story which was refreshing and I was taken by surprise as the plot unraveled. There were some great moment between the main characters, but that element was very predictable. I will say this is a true enemies-to-lovers which is much appreciated!

Overall I just wanted gripped sadly! I struggled to keep picking this book up and I’m not sure why. Outside of the main characters I wasn’t particularly interested in anyone else and there was nothing about the setting that stood out to me. I think if you’re specifically wanting a YA romantasy with an assassin/target dynamic you might really enjoy this! I think it has all the parts to make an interesting story but nothing made it stand out in my mind.

This was a fun, fast-paced fantasy read. I loved the banter between the main characters. I can't wait for the next book.

Easy read. It wasn't very memorable or a story I wish to read again or continue the series with but it was ok while reading.

Thank you for letting me read a copy of it.

⭐️ 4/5
🌶 2/5
⚠️ This was more suited for 16+ readers
(Advertised as YA, but I would say NA)

📚 I really enjoyed this gripping fantasy romance where the stakes were high and the tension was tense!

This is a setting where the enemies to lovers are actual enemies, from enemy factions, but who had found comfort and solace within each other.

With war going on around them, they keep finding themselves drawn together, and the possibility of their romance kept me burning throughout this book.

The cliffhanger that we were left on physically hurt me... especially when enemies become lovers, who have to remain enemies - is the cliff I am being pushed off 🥲🥺😭

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🌶⚠️ There were enough mature themes and mild spice in this that I would be getting this reclassified to an upper YA or NA. It doesn't bother me, but it may throw some people off when they didn't expect it.

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Overall, I really enjoyed this and recommend toamyone who loves slow burn, enemies to lovers, war within different magical factions, and forbidden romance.

THIS is what I mean when I say ✨enemies to lovers✨
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange of for an honest review.

I WAS BLESSED

Spoilers below
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If she doesn’t stab him, kick in the balls and break his nose all so he can keep coming back for more I don’t want it 😂😂 the way this man was a glutton for punishment and still asked her if she wanted to see his scar from her 😂😂 the banter!!!

*Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me a digital copy to review*

This book has all of the things I love; enemies to lovers, a unique magic system, found family, and characters that are well-versed in sarcasm.

In the kingdom of Fantome Shade-magic is a scarce commodity and is used and controlled by two rival groups, the Daggers and the Clocks. Daggers are lethal assassins while Clocks are sly thieves. The story follows Sera who seeks sanctuary with the Clocks after finding her mother murdered. Unfortunately (or fortunately) she is the target of Ransom, the heir to the order of the Daggers, and they are both drawn together while trying to uncover the mystery of the monsters stalking the streets of Fantome.

The relationship between Sera & Ransom had me kicking my feet. I just love when enemies to lovers is done right and by that, I mean one of them almost kills the other in the beginning. Even though Ransom has been a member of the Daggers since he was a child Sera gave him a run for his money which I loved. There’s dual POV so we get to see what both characters really think and feel about each other.

I enjoy stories that have fleshed-out characters and I really felt that with this book. Both Sera & Ransom have their demons and traumas that shape them as well as give common ground to allow their relationship to develop. This also applies to the secondary characters; Bibi, Val & Theo, they’re all interesting and hopefully, we’ll learn more about them. And of course, you can’t forget Pippin the dog who has saved Sera many times

The magic system is not something I’ve seen before which is great and it’s interesting how differently the Clocks and the Daggers utlise shade for their exploits. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what Sera discovered and how that affects the orders as well as Fantome as a whole.

This was a fun book to get caught up in and I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next.

I love this enemies to lovers story.

It’s longing and betrayal. Sadness, grief and triumph. Found family, rivals and most of all longing and lust.

I loved this book. I couldn’t wait to get to the parts about Random and Sera. There love is so fantastic to experience as they let it develop between them.

It’s a unique magic system that comes from a plant. But the rivals use it in very different manners. There are big mystery reveals and a bit of a cliff hanger for the second book, but it has a finalised ending.

Great book for the enemies to lovers trope

4.5 stars
TW; death of parent(s), active murder attempts, death, mentioning of past domestic violence and child abuse, grooming and manipulation

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

I have to admit, it took me a good moment to get invested in this story, but once I was hooked, I had to know what happened next and consumed it. This YA romantasy is great for fans of enemies to lovers looking for something that truly fits the term. For a good portion of The Dagger and the Flame, Seraphine and Ransom attempt to kill each other or at least survive against opposing orders, and I eagerly waited for the tension that subsequently brewed.

Of course, the storyline has quite a level of predictable twists, but the comfort I took out of reading the tropes, plot twists, and the romantic development all play out in the way I expected was worth picking up the read. If you've read a lot of fantasy, there isn't a lot new here - both protagonists have tragic backstories that have led to their current lives, one as an assassin, the other trying to survive after her mother is killed, and both have essentially been conditioned into the roles they play now. I enjoyed their quieter moments, especially with the paper darts, where it allowed the pair to be young, naive, and stupid in love. Their hope matched well with their personalities and the story told, and the passion that followed with reckless abandon fitted well too. Ransom and Seraphine were believable protagonists, and I couldn't help but want more for them, especially at the end where it all leaves off.

The magic system and the imagery of the city of Fantome really appealed to me. I appreciated the information around how Shade worked, and why the Daggers utilised the compound to gain their heightened skills to make them fluent killers. I equally liked how it could be manipulated into items to wear, such as the Cloaks did, and the darker ways it was worked with too. It made it interesting that everyone was so human without it, and how it could also be what came for those who overused it in the end. I'm excited to see how Shade and Lightfire will evolve as this series continues.

I did appreciate Ransom's storyline a bit more than Seraphine's. Her story took me much longer to warm up to, but as the betrayals and secrets unfolded, I grew to love her more, and I'm eager to see what she and her friends will do in the sequel, following the explosive ending. I also like how Seraphine and Ransom left off, both wanting more for the other where it currently doesn't work for their individual pursuits. It will be intriguing to see how they clash once more when the next book is released. But until then, I highly recommend this story to those who are searching for a read where it may be predictable but still offers an engaging experience.

An absolute must read!! This enemies to lovers romantasy was so thrilling I could not put it down. I really liked all the characters and found so interesting. The plot was captivating and I devoured it so quickly.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC to be able to review this book early.

It took me a while to get into this book, however, once I hit that tipping point I loved it. I enjoyed the story, and the characters were compelling. Most of all though, I enjoyed the descriptive writing that Catherine brought to the table. The scenes and events within the book were beautifully written and I thoroughly applaud Catherine for her ability to set the atmosphere. It really made immersing myself in the world a lot easier and most of the time I truly felt like a fly on the wall in the world.

I look forward to reading future novels by Catherine, as I'm very excited to see what comes next.

A new to me author, I ate this up and will be seeking out other titles by the author. The world and city of Fantome are rich enough to jump right into without a visual map, I was imagining northern Italy type environment. The concept of Shade magic was a unique take on shadow magic. The rival underworld gangs rely on the organic product of Shade. The assassins, The Daggers, ingest the Shade and are marked by it, whereas the Cloaks, the theives in the night, wear or use Shade imbued objects.

The FMC, Sera, the daughter of a murdered Shade manufacturer, has a true enemies to lovers arc with MMC, Ransom, heir apparent to the Dagger empire. This relationship is beautifully crafted around the background of truly having reason to dislike and distrust. Small steps of trust and attraction uncover their inner motivations. The paperplane message system was simple yet, not. A nice summation of their relationship. Simple yet,, not.
The found friends and faithful familiar, Pippin, offer beautiful support roles and have room to grow in their scope and invovlement.
As I read, I did get The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter vibes. The consistent pacing and story development was a lovely change. The ending has set up perfectly for more books without the hangover of a cliffhanger.
I would happily recommend this for upper YA romantasy with some respectful mild spice in the latter part of the book.

With thanks to NetGalley, Simon Shuster Australia and the author for an eARC of this book ahead of publication. All opinions are my own.

The Dagger and the Flame was one that I was so excited to read and my god did it live up to my expectations! It was filled with so much action, revelations and developments but it wasn’t too much. I found myself so connected to the characters, their stories and of course their secrets as well which all came to light. I loved the tension between Seraphine and Ransom, like I need more of it. The battle scenes were written so well and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Probably my top read of this year to date and I couldn’t fault it! Bring on book two.

After her mother's murder, Seraphine runs for her life and seeks shelter with the Cloaks, one of two enemy guilds in Fantome. She wants revenge. But then she meets Ransom, heir to rival guild the Daggers, and nothing is as it seems as the two rival guilds grapple for control of Fantome's underworld.

With the two main characters trying to kill each other for most of the book, I really enjoyed this feeling of a genuine enemies to lovers!

Doyle creates an intriguing world, with a rich magic system and an underworld built on lies and secrets. The characters are complex, with wants and feelings that border into the morally grey sphere.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for an e-arc! All opinions are my own

My fellow enemies to lovers fiends, this one is for YOU. I couldn’t put this book down, I wanted to rush home from work to read it, I stayed up until 1am to finish it. It was SO good. This is a TRUE enemies to lovers, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the end.
The final chapter has me already needing to read a sequel, I cannot wait to enter back into this world.

HOW REFRESHING it was to finally read a genuine enemies to lovers romantasy where they were trying to kill one another for a good chunk of the book. This book was honestly pure magic. A simple and creative magic system set in a world that is rich in secrets and intrigue with complex, well-constructed characters – I am so keen for the next book in this series. I think that this book is the start of something really special and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

4.5 / 5

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read and give an honest review.

A huge thank you goes to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster and Catherine Doyle for letting me read an e-ARC of The Dagger and the Flame! This YA romantic fantasy is the first book in a true enemies to lovers series (The City of Fantome) and I’m so excited for you to begin this adventure!

Although there’s a clear line between the guilds of Daggers and Cloaks, you know what I love most about The Dagger and the Flame? How easily we wander the murky grey area of morality when it comes to our main characters. A lot of the people you meet in this YA romantasy aren’t purely good or evil, and I love how we’re encouraged to figure out what motivates them! Add to that the history of the guilds, with the sister who was torn between the choices of her brothers? This. Is. Spine. Tingling.

I’m just going to say it…. Within The Dagger and the Flame, it’s actually Ransom who quickly became my favourite character. His backstory is a tragic one, and it’s easy to expect that this would blind him to the faults of his guild. After all, they took him in when he had no one. But our Dagger is a quick-witted young man, constantly assessing everything around him. And when things start to go awry? Let’s just put it this way: you desperately want him to receive a redemption/salvation arc. But because I don’t do spoilers (at least, not if I can help it), I’m not going to tell you if he gets one. Sorry. But also… Still not sorry enough to spill the tea.

In this YA romantic fantasy, we’re treated to a number of surprising events. And who wouldn’t love that?! Some of them hark back to the morally grey area I was talking about just before, but others? They’re just pure magic from Catherine’s creative mind and I am *so* thankful for it! This world is so rich in secrets, I’m already aching to read the next book and find out more. Seriously. I need it like I need to keep breathing.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle is a YA romantic fantasy full of unique magic, deadly power struggles and monsters galore. This is the beginning of something very, very special and I need you to add this to your TBR. You can never have too many books on there, trust me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

The story is a refreshing take on the romantasy genre with a TRUE enemies to lovers trope and a unique magic system. They have shadow daddies, guys, but it’s done so differently and I’m IN LOVE.

Right from the first page, I was hooked and not a single time afterwards did my attention waver. The plot is heavier on the fantasy side than it is on romance, but I have no complaints. Once you do get to the romance, I hope you’re ready for the slow burn with a dash of tension and delightful banter, because it was all so delicious to experience.

My favourite thing about this book were its well-developed characters. Yes, even the side characters! I enjoyed seeing Seraphine evolve from a simple farmgirl to a strong and determined thief, and there was so much depth to Ransom aside from just being another addition to the shadow daddies line up. About halfway through the story, I started growing attached to one of the side characters and I can’t wait to know more about them in the next book. I’m not saying their name but I have my eyes on you, Catherine Doyle.

The last 30% had me on the edge of my seat and I even yelled out at one point - apologies to my sleeping dog. There were so many twists and turns, and nothing could have ever prepared me for that ending. A word of caution for some of you; while this is a YA novel, there is an open door spicy scene in the story. I’m personally not a fan of quite descriptive spice scenes in YA novels and I believe the story would’ve been better without it.

Overall, the story was a fun read and it truly deserves all the hype it’s getting at the moment. I’m emotionally shattered but I can’t wait to revisit the story once the audiobook comes out because Freddy Carter (!!) is voicing Ramson (OH MY GOD).