Penn Cole's Spark of the Ever Flame is a captivating fantasy romance that will transport you to a world of magic and danger. The story follows a young woman who discovers she is a powerful sorceress and must fight to protect her kingdom. The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are complex and intriguing. The romance between the two main characters is slow-burn and passionate, and the action sequences are thrilling.

If there was ever a book worth the hype it is this! I couldn’t put this book down. The concept was so unique…and while I knew where the story was going I was still surprised by how it ended. Diem is a total bad a** who takes no prisoners. While I was devastated for her and Teller and the loss of their mom you just know that there is more to that story. Her growth and meeting Luther and getting close with the royals…her relationship with Henri…this journey is a wild ride.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the early copy of this book!!

OMG! When I say I devoured this.. I spent every free second I had reading this book and when it ended I found myself searching for the next book. Diem is a strong willed FMC who drives us crazy but I was enjoying the ride as she tried to figure out who she was and where she came from all while fighting with her inner self to choose between the man she should fall for and the one she wants to fall for. Excellent and easy read. Can’t wait for book two!

The Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole is the beginning of a series I look forward to completing. A dystopian society with classes, mortals vs. demigods (Descended). Diem is a mortal working as a healer. Her mother goes missing and Diem takes her place as a healer caring for the dying King. All while tangling with the King’s nephew Prince Luther who is the assumed to be the next in line for the throne. A classic fantasy, forbidden romance, good vs. evil story. Although we don’t really know which side is good or evil as both have sides display these traits. A slow burn romance with a little bit of spice. The ending leaves you reaching for book two. This looks like a four book series with only three out to date. I thoroughly enjoyed book one. Now onto book two.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this. I had taken a step back from Fantasy because nothing was really peaking my interest. Then I decided to pick this up and give it a try. The premise of this story is amazing, the world building wonderful and precise. There's a mystery element to it and I love it!. We have magic, Demi gods and a underdog powerful main character. This makes a great read.
The writing style is great and the dialogs flow smoothly and definitely not cringe.
Diem's mom disappears after she sees her secretly conversing with a descended. More secrets come out and her life is going to be turned upside down.
I don't want to spoil this but I would recommend to pick this up. I can not wait to read the second book!!

Thank you Atria Books for the free copy!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Diem’s mother mysteriously disappears, setting off a chain reaction of secrets and lies as Diem begins to learn the truth about the mortals and the Descended—a race of demigods who rules over them all.

I hadn’t heard of this series until @buddyreadbabes scheduled a buddy read and put it on my radar, and I’m really glad I found it! The world building here was really detailed, and I read this entire book in a single day, so clearly it had me hooked right away. I had a lot of predictions early on, and most of them came true (including the ending), but it was really fun watching them unfold. And I enjoyed most of the characters, particularly Luther and Teller.

There are eight million questions set up by this plot and I would have liked a few more answers, but I know there are three books to come and I cannot wait to continue the series soon!

CW: Death/murder; injury/blood; child death; medical content

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole is a richly imagined start to The Kindred’s Curse series, resonating with fantasy romance fans for its deep world-building and dynamic lead character, Diem. Set in a world oppressed by godly Descended rulers, the story combines political intrigue, rebellion, and a compelling enemies-to-lovers angle with the king’s heir, Luther. Cole balances an intense plot with layers of character development, especially through Diem's personal conflicts and her journey into Descended society to uncover her mother’s secrets.

I appreciate the pacing and integration of Cole’s social themes, which draw parallels between Emarion's socio-political landscape and real-world issues of systemic privilege and colonialism. For those who love a slow-burn romance with well-developed fantasy elements, Spark of the Everflame is a page-turner that promises an immersive reading experience and leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this book is a bit inconsistent in its pacing and lack of "screen-time" of the primary male love interest, but despite that, I found myself fully engrossed in this book! Even though I was thoroughly frustrated by the main female character several times while reading, I HAD to keep reading.

I am looking forward to reading subsequent books in this series.

After seeing a lot of hype for this book, I was lucky enough to get an e-arc - Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley!

Overall, this did feel like an easy book to read. I think the premise and world was interesting. I was curious to learn more. I like love triangles (sue me lol), and the romance aspect was entertaining. I also really liked the focus on Diem's family unit. Her brother and dad were some of the most interesting characters to me.

However, Diem as a main character was very confusing. A lot of the conflict in the story comes from her rash decisions, but despite being in First Person POV, I don't understand her decisions. It was also hard to believe the Luther we saw with Diem vs. how he was known to everyone else. Some of the foreshadowing in the story felt a little too heavy-handed for me in its delivery. Also, I did not like Henry 😂

This was another enemies to lovers that felt like it was more of a "opposites attract" instead of enemies. While I enjoyed it, parts of the book felt rushed and the characters are inconsistent in their actions. Become a spy? Sure. Get the attention of everyone around her? Also, yes. What is that reasoning? . The "I'm a bad bitch and therefore going to fight everyone who disagrees" is not my usual cup of tea, but in this instance, I'm intrigued enough that I'd pick up book 2.

This was phenomenal! I had high expectations going into this because I have heard good things but I was actually really surprised to see that I really really enjoyed it.

Diem was a usual girl main character and did have some of those annoying aspects but overall I really liked her fire and drive. She was an interesting character, and although she made stupid decisions I really did love her.

I think this is an interesting comparison but I really am getting "The Selection" vibes with the growing love triangle. And I usually hate love triangles, but I love the one did there and I think I really am liking this one too.

Although I cannot stand the name Luther I really like him and he was giving me all these butterflies! This is a really good slow burn, and I'm sensing some enemies brewing so I cannot wait to see how their relationship with change and grow.

I did spot all of the twists a mile away, and some I am sure are still coming but that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. This was super super fun!

I can sense that this series is only going to get stronger too as I care for these characters more and more and am intrigued to see where Cole takes it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and will be picking up the second very soon!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole is about Diem, a mortal healer, whose mother goes missing the day after Diem sees her arguing in hushed tones with the Prince about “secrets” as a growing civil war brews between the mortals and the magic Descendeds.

A bit of a short blurb above because I don’t want to give away toooo much!

I really enjoyed this one! I love a morally grey (and PRINCE!!!!) MMC so the second Luther was introduced I was swooning. Diem can be kind of self-serving at times, but I truly do think she has the best intentions in mind and I’m excited to see her character arc develop. However, I am absolutely getting Gale vibes from Henri… and looking forward to what is hopefully his inevitable demise!!!

I loved Diem’s relationship with her brother Teller, and I’m interested to see how that unfolds!

If you like the Hunger Games, but wish it was more fantasy vibes, then I think you’ll enjoy this one in the sense that there’s a societal hierarchy that clearly has rebels and people of status, but the magic here is a great touch.

The world building was natural, and easy to understand! 4 stars because while I really enjoyed it, I thought the “big twist” at the end was predictable.

I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes though!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I loved this! I cannot wait to continue with this series, I was immediately hooked. It’s a slow burn, enemies to lovers fantasy romance and had all of the qualities I look for in a book.

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole is a deep fantasy with racial undertones and a secondary romance. I struggled to get through this one around 40% because it slows way down and the FMC is prone to making bad decisions. Also there's very clearly a Tamlin that we all just want to go away but won't. Despite all of that, I was satisfied with the ending even if I find it somewhat lacking plausibility because FANTASY, etc.
Hopefully Diem gets it together in the next book in the series or this whole world is going to erupt into pure chaos.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

I LOVED this!!!! I have been feeling so disappointed by fantasy romance lately, but this was perfect. The fantasy plot was not overshadowed by the romance plot - but I can see lots of development for the romance in the future.

I was fascinated by the world and the main character was powerful and strong without being an archetype.

Will immediately be continuing!!!

I went into this blind so I really didn’t know what I was signing up for. I know this is billed as one of those “books to read after ACOTAR” but I really feel that it holds up. The story was different enough from other romantasy books to keep me interested. I’m not a huge fan of the FMC but I’m very very interested in Luther and the plot line of the series. This gives hunger games x from blood and ash vibes. I could not stop thinking about this when I wasn’t reading and I read the last 20% quicker than I’ve read almost any other book. It’s a super fun read, and I’m so ready for the next instalment. I think this whole series has a lot of potential

Thanks to Netgalley, Penn Cole and Atria Books for this e-ARC

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would! I find sometimes the first book in a fantasy series can be a bit bland or rushed in order to explain the world or get to the next book that actually has plot.

My biggest complaint with this book was the lack of explanation about the voice that kept telling Diem to "fight." I know this will probably be explained later on, but I would have loved if Diem had at least had some sort of theory, even if it eventually ended up being wrong.

I was also a bit confused about Diem's father and how the Descendants were using him against the mortals. Maybe I missed the obvious explanation, but I thought it was strange the Descendants wouldn't just use their own soldiers since they were so much stronger and better suited to fight.

I was glad to see Diem hold her own against the Guardians and also against her initial love interest. I had absolutely no interest in seeing them together and I couldn't see why anyone would root for them. From the very beginning, he wasn't a character I wanted to read much about.

That being said, I loved reading about the prince. I thought he had so much to add to the story, and I liked that he was still an "enemy" but not horrible to Diem like some enemy to lovers stories start out. I am interested to learn more about him as a character and his backstory.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to the continuing on with this series and the author!

It took me a bit to really get into this, but overall I did enjoy the story. The FMC is kind of insufferable for the most part, but Luther makes up for it. I’m also intrigued by Sorae, the gryvern, and hope she’s included in the remaining books as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this now traditionally published book in exchange for my honest review.

Still obsessed. I loved this book from start to finish. And for it to be a debut novel? Insane. 10/10 stars and no notes.

Diem is a mortal healer living in a world that has been colonized by the gods and ruled by the cruel Descended, magical descendants of the gods and their mortal partners from generations previous. When her mother goes missing, she is set on a path to take over her mother’s healing duties, which includes healing some of the Descended, whom she has been protected from interacting with before. She is called upon to serve as a healer for the royals, while also being called upon to join the mortal rebellion to take back power from the Descended.

I loved the FMC of this book and really all of the characters. Diem has so much depth and is so real and truly so unique. The world building was really well done, and the interactions between her and Luther had me sending screenshots to my book bestie for like a day straight 😂.

I highly recommend this book to literally anyone, but especially fans of fantasy romance. The new physical copy is stunning, what a cover.

I’m disappointed because this story had such a rich world and some incredible side characters but the main character, Diem, made me want to tear my hair out. She was so needlessly and senselessly reckless and though the author keeps making the reader want to understand the danger and stakes of this world, her actions make me feel as though nothing matters. I hope in future books she matures, but I honestly am reluctant to keep reading