I enjoyed the story line and absolutely love the cover. Not sure if I'll continue with the series but I am a little curious so probably will.

Glow of the Everflame picks up right where spark ended. The FMC and MMC frustrate me at times as they continue to make the same mistakes over and over. There is repetition as well throughout the book and the series. I enjoyed Spark of the Everflame more but I am excited to read the full series.

Definitely in the minority, but I couldn’t care less about Diem and her story. I found her to be obnoxious and irritating and I couldn’t relate to her at all. I won’t be continuing the series.

Thank you Penn Cole and team for the opportunity to read such an amazing book! This series has become one of my new favorites and I am definitely a fan of hers.

I don’t appreciate the cliffhanger though! I need book 3 now!

Glow of the Everflame
By Penn Cole

Glow of the Everflame is the second book in the Kindred’s Curse Saga. Glow picks up right where Spark ends. Diem is by the water with her brother, Teller, after a fight with her father. Only now there is a glowing crown above her head. Diem tries to hide the fact that she now wears the crown of Lumnos, but of course Luther finds her.

Diem must survive a month until Coronation Day, by forming an alliance with the former Crown’s family. Diem trusts no one, after being taught all her life to never trust a Descended. Soon Diem realizes that nothing is as it seems, not all Descended are the same, and not all rebels are as they appear either. With her heart on the line between her possible betrothed Henri and the Descended who has supported her at every turn, Luther, Diem must pick a side. Still many secrets are kept and mothers still missing. Diem must trust in herself to survive.

Glow was a faster paced book compared to Spark, now that all of the groundwork was laid down. I feel as though Diem still gaslighted herself a lot in this book, but finally opened her eyes to the world around her. I feel as though Luther carried this book, he is a fantastic MMC. Still this book had me on the edge of my seat through most of the book.

I give this book a 4 /5 Stars. I am excited to read Heat of the Everflame next.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of Glow of the Everflame.

Imagine being a newly-crowned royal of a realm where everyone hates you, no one trusts you, and the only people who can save you include the family of your sworn (but also super hot) enemy? Welcome to the life of Queen Diem.
This book included trials, political intrigue, the slowest of slow burn romances, betrayal, heartbreak, and a massive plot twist. I was on the edge of my seat and can't wait to see what comes next.

Fast paced, action packed and a burn so slow but so good!! This book was even better than the first and that’s a hard feat!
I’m so emotionally invested in all of these characters and everything that is going on in this world. I actually can’t wait to start book three and with everything that is going on, I just know it’s going to be deliciously chaotic. This book is severely underhyped and needs to be talked about more. If you haven’t started this series yet, what are you doing?! Get on it. You will not be dissapointed.

ARC Review, release 12/03/2024
5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
WHAT?! MA’AM!! The cycle of emotions I went through reading this book was insane, and in the last 20%??? I was speechless, yet also, loud bc I accidentally woke up my husband when I finished at midnight last night 😅
Book 2 of the Kindred’s Curse Saga has so much Character development and growth! The plot twists were twisting! And now I have more questions than answers (in the best way) before diving into book 3 😫
I truly care about these characters deeply, and was completely whisked away into this world every time I picked it up. And YOU SHOULD TOO!

3.5 stars rounding up to 4 stars!

After the cliffhanger/dramatic ending book one left us on I immediately had to pickup book two! This book picks up right where book one left us and dove right into scheming and social hierarchy that Diem has been thrusted into as well as showcasing a few individuals visiting from other kingdoms throughout the story (totally wish we got a few more snippets with these people but I have feeling we are about to learn a whole lot more about them in book three).

This book leans more heavily into learning more about House of Corbois which introduced more characters (some evil and some sweet). This allowed us to get a better understand of Luther and how he was raised, it was like slowly peeling back layer after layer and it just made me love this man even more. By learning more about this family, we also learned more about the societal ranking of the other major families and the scheming involved (which I personally loved and it felt like being a fly on the wall when so much drama was going down).

Penn Cole is truly the queen of sloooooowwww burrrrnnnnn romances! The tension between Diem and Luther was still perfection and I couldn’t get enough of it. While Diem was a bit frustrating at times, especially with how she occasionally treated Luther, I think it’s understandable given her world has literally flipped upside down.

However, one thing that remained consistent from book to book is that Henri is still the WORST and Diem just needs to drop this man!!! Like girl… this man doesn’t like you let alone love you!!!

Overall, this book was fun and entertaining! If you love plotting and scheming then this book is 100% perfect for you. Personally, can’t wait to continue this series especially after the ending?!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am absolutely obsessed with this series! This is the most delicious of slow burns and I am literally dying for Diem and Luther to have their moment already. But what I really love about these books is watching Diem's journey. That cliffhanger was a beast and I am already counting down to the next book!

The story was great and engaging and I did go back to read the first book so I could better be prepared for this one. The book ends on a cliffhanger, just like the first one, and leaves you wanting more! The heroine is headstrong and multilayered. A great addition to any library and I will definitely be recommending this story to fantasy/romance readers. My only disappointment was that this was not a complete copy of the book. There is a note at the end that says there will be more to the story and there will be a “missing scene” in the final publication. I would have loved to see the final product to have the full view of the book.

Diem struggles with her newfound position of Queen especially when she doesn't fully understand her own magic or the political dynamics of the Descended and their laws and culture. She is not even sure she wants this as she has grown up as a mortal and has seen the harsh treatment of the Descended on mortals and had been working to undermine them. They are only welcoming to her for what she can do for them and this leaves her navigating between factions, her family, the new friends she has made and trying to determine who she can trust and who she cannot. She will have to look deep within to find her magic, her calling and decide on her true desires as the longer she is there the more her original beliefs of the Descended are challenged. Her Mom is still missing but Luther knows some of the secrets she so desperately wants to know but has promised her Mom not to tell her. To be crowned, she will have to earn the respect of not only the house of Corbeis whom she's pledged but also the other 19 houses and if they challenge, her she'll have to fight the challenger to a death match. Penn Cole has done an excellent job of weaving together all the elements of fantasy, drama, mystery and romance with complex and entertaining characters and I can't wait to read Book #3! Highly recommend!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. #TeamLuther #GlowoftheEverflame #NetGalley

This series is a perfect romantasy to get into. The worldbuilding and the characters are so amazing! This book had me thinking about it long after I finished reading it. The writing as well as the audiobook are top-tier!!! The FMC was absolutely tough and relatable at the same time. I’m so excited to read more in this series!!!

Diem and Luther are fantastic to follow! I adore this world and I’m so excited to read what comes next!

Once again, Penn Cole did not disappoint! I have been in such a reading slump. Nothing has been hitting right, but THIS SERIES….this is it!

Now, Diem got on my nerves a little with some of her choices. She was just signing up to be challenged left and right. I understood her motives, but come on girl. BUT when she had her moments of female rage…she brought it!

Um Luther…..he’s almost beating my number one book bf, Xaden Riorson. And let me tell you that’s a hard man to beat! His undeniable devotion to Diem. 😭😍

I just think everything about this series is amazing, so far. It’s beautifully written, with little to no plot holes, strong character development, and really grabs the reader. I laughed, I CRIED, I screamed, I almost threw my kindle. I can not wait to see what happens next!

Glow of the Everflame
3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley for this eARC copy of Glow Of the Everflame! I was excited to start it after reading the first book earlier this year.

This book picks up with the same main characters and adds a few more to the cast as Diem gets crowned Queen and meets her new family. As before, there’s a ton of tension between her and Luther as well as others who aren’t ready to accept her as queen.

I know this is a very unpopular opinion for this book, but I did not think it lived up to the hype or even how much I enjoyed the first book. This book was a lot longer than the normal books I read, and it kind of felt like not enough actually happened in it given the length. But if you’re into longer fantasy series, this still might be for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for a free arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Kindred's Curse Saga is one of my new favorite series. It's perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and ACOTAR. While I enjoyed book one of this series a lot, the overall story felt a little rushed to me, but at the same time I didn't feel like a lot happened. Book 2, Glow of the Everflame, makes up for this.

Glow of the Everflame picks up exactly where Spark left off. Diem has been given the crown of Lumnos and does not know what to do or who to trust. We follow Diem as she tries to fit into her new role with the Descended while trying to hold onto her past. As she realizes that the roles of good and evil in her world are not as clear as they once seemed.

What did I like about this book?

The tension in this book is AMAZING. The small moments between Diem and Luther left butterflies in my stomach. And the burn is so slooooooooow it's almost tortuous. Luther is one of my all time favorite love interests. I also really enjoyed learning more about this world and the Descended in this book. The world really started coming together and the side-characters added a lightness to the story.

What did I not like?
Honestly, the only thing about this book that I don't like is Diem. This book is told entirely from her POV and sometimes it's hard to be in her head as she is constantly making bad decisions. Her distrust of Luther and loyalty to Henri were hard for me at times. She's kind of like Aelin from Throne of Glass, if Aelin constantly made the wrong moves and was not very smart.

Overall I really loved this series. Glow of the Everflame, specifically, is my favorite book in the series. I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for the rest of the series.

Out On: December 3, 2024

What an incredible follow up to what is shaping up to be my favorite fantasy read of 2024! I thought that this book gave us so much more insight into Diem, her powers, her life and who she is/wants to be as a person! Needless to say that my heart was ripped out of my chest a variety of times throughout this book, but I couldn't be more happy about it. I love a book that makes me feel something, and this book, oh boy, it did just that.

I am still so curious about Luther and what Diem means to him because even through this book he is kind of an enigma. It is obvious he cares about her a lot, but I NEED to know just how much and why. I want to know all of his secrets!

The side characters came to play in this one and I loved every single one of them. Except Henri. I have a strong dislike for Henri. He sucks. Enough said.

Also, the ending? The ending?! I need book three in my hands immediately. And I know just how I'm going to get it! I'm going to go do that, mkay bye!!!

ps. I thought that the writing grew as well, so my accolades to the author because this was wonderful!

Thank you so much to Atria Books for this advanced copy on NetGalley! 🤍

Thank you to Penn Cole and Atria for the opportunity to read this book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Kindred's Curse series, with Glow being my personal favorite. At the end of Spark, a major revelation changes Diem's trajectory forcing her into a new world to survive. Court politics, secrets, magic, and the slowest slow burn are all present here. And at the center is Luther Corbois. Can he be trusted? Or is he trying to steal the throne for himself? Who can Diem trust to survive and change Lumnos for the better?

Diem goes through such a journey of acceptance that is beautiful in this book. Not only does her point of view change, but she becomes more empathetic to those she used to despise. I can't say enough about the characters, the setting, and Luther. Oh Luther. He has the best quotes in this book. I could gush happiness all day for this series but you should check it out for yourself.

Thank you again for the opportunity. I am so excited to see what Penn does next in her future books.

Diem is a TREASURE and I will fight A N Y O N E who dares challenge that statement.

Her character arc in this book is fantastic. She's thrown to the wolves, forced to learn how to play politics while also trying to maintain her softness and fight for those she has always chosen to fight for. On top of maintaining a connection to her home and her old life, no matter how "stupid" or ill-advised it is. She's flawed, she's trying, and she is a FIGHTER.

And Luther? Her adorable massive golden retriever shadow with a bite? I love him. I can make him so much worse, but BOY do I love him. I can't wait to jump into the next book and get more of the two of them actually together now that Diem has survived this trial and moves onto the next.

The cousins? A+. Nickames galore? Also A+. The villains? Incredible and realistic. Not a single note across the board from me.

I was HOOKED. I read this in an afternoon because I couldn't put it down, and it's taking EVERYTHING in me not to just jump into the third one and forget everything else on my TBR.

Diem is for everyone who wants to fight and change the world but is afraid of losing parts of themselves in the process and afraid of what that means for them.