A Sapphic Fantasy Adventure That Didn’t Quite Hit the Romantic Mark
⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Idolfire by Grace Curtis is a hard book to pin down. It’s a cozy, character-driven fantasy adventure full of heartfelt moments, but as a sapphic romance, it didn’t fully deliver the emotional payoff I’d hoped for.

The story follows Kirby, an earnest traveler from Wall’s End, and Aleya, a proud princess from Ash, as they navigate a rugged camping quest together. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their interactions are full of charm, wit, and subtle vulnerability. The addition of a Carthic boy soldier as an unlikely companion was an unexpected twist that brought depth to their journey. The trio’s dynamic is layered and emotional, with all three characters facing internal struggles that make their development feel authentic.

Where the book truly shines is in its cozy quest vibes and its exploration of friendship and found family. The world-building is understated but effective, allowing the characters to take center stage. I felt deeply connected to Kirby, Aleya, and their companion, understanding their motivations and feeling the weight of their choices.

But the romance? That’s where things stumbled for me. The slow-burn flirtation between Kirby and Aleya was sweet but lacked the tension and momentum I wanted. I rooted for them throughout the story, only to be met with a bittersweet ending where they part ways and meet again as friends in old age. It’s a realistic conclusion, but it felt at odds with the breezy, humorous tone of the rest of the book. I would have preferred either a full-fledged HEA or for their relationship to remain purely platonic throughout.

The humor, while light and casual, leaned too heavily into cringe for my taste, and a second-person perspective chapter—though jarring at first—ended up being one of the most intriguing parts of the book. That said, the pacing and structure felt uneven at times, and the lack of romantic closure left me a bit deflated.

If you’re looking for a sapphic romance with a happy ending, this might not be the book for you. But if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt adventure focused on character growth, found family, and personal discovery, Idolfire is worth the read. Just adjust your expectations accordingly.

This exceeded my expectations a lot! The world is mystical but well explained. The characters became friends to me during reading. I had a hard time putting it down. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Had a bit of a slow start, but was an amazing immersing and nostalgic fantasy. FYI, it does not have a HEA, so keep that in mind when you pick it up. Still worth your time though.

Trigger warnings for: infertility

A decent story with what has to be one of my larger pet peeves: characters that talk like they’re in a mid-90s to early 200’s V show: “Paint a mural, it’ll last longer.” “Aren’t you being a big baby?” Or how it’s “your-funeral-pyre.” This along with the many parenthetical asides (fortunately the quippier ones were only in the early chapters and vanished quickly) made me roll my eyes more than once. If the humor hadn’t been so forced (the heavy hand of a 90s character about to slap his friend in the back of he head for making a ‘cute’ observation, complete with laugh track), I think this would have worked better, because there’s a lot to like in this book.

The world building is strong, and while the cultures feel a little … simplistic and derivative — the primitive tree people, the elegant, advanced city folk of Ur, the brutal warriors of Carthic, bloodthirsty pirates and rustic farmers, they’re all done with care and attention. There’s an acknowledgement that not every group of people speaks the same language or has the same customs, or even the same values. It felt like care was taken with how each person they encountered shaped Kirby and Aleya, leaving their marks. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a stand-alone that feels like a cross between a road trip and an epic adventure, this book might be just what you’re looking for. Kirby and Aleya go from being indifferent to being friends to being lovers with nice, real character development, and while there were framing choices that didn’t work for me … they did, in the end, serve their purpose and help tie everything together.

All in all, I read this in a single setting and had fun while doing it. The fight scenes felt real, the book felt grounded in its own reality, and I do recommend it. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC!

Overall, a fun adventure fantasy with a very cool setting - I don't know that I would have picked up the inspiration of the fall of Rome if I wasn't told, but I think knowing that added to my reading experience, at least.

When I talk about the setting, I mean that specifically each city or country had a very distinct personality. I loved how the book delved a bit into the history of each, as well as their individual gods. Each setting felt quite fully realized to me, and while I'm already a noted fan of road novels and picaresque writing, I definitely enjoyed the fact that the very plot of this book meant that we got to explore so many of its cultures.

It's a bit sad, then, that where this book didn't quite hit the mark for me was in the personalities of its actual characters. Aleya, Kirby, and even Nylo had great setups to their arcs, with strong motivations to drive them, and yet I just did not get attached to any of them. They were fine, but I could not bring myself to really care for any of them.

One other aspect that didn't quite work for me, though I appreciate the idea behind it and the ambition, was the handful of "You" chapters. I like the idea of these mysterious, lore-building chapters in the second person, but I felt like the author also liked the idea of it and didn't really go much beyond "wouldn't this be cool?"

There were many elements common to epic fantasy - a quest! Magic! A band of misfits-turned-found-family! - and it was a fun story and easy to read, even if I didn't connect with it as much as I'd like. The fact that the author is writing a companion set 2000 years later is intriguing enough to get me coming back, I think!

Thank you to the publisher, DAW, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

A bit slow to start but a very atmospheric and nostalgic fantasy with falling empires, great for young adults as nothing graphic occurs beyond a few hints of horror that aren’t fully fleshed out, and three-dimensional main characters. Would have liked more of the mechanics of Nivela.

I wasn't sure about this as I started it out, but I slowly fell more and more in love with these road companions, their slow romance, and the road that ultimately leads them down the paths they do. (I am also going to explicitly call out that this is not a HEA, and the fact that the author commits to it and adds in a neat omniscient second person POV also seals the deal for me.) Absolutely worth your time this spring.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Idolfire is a fantasy novel that follows:
•Kirby of Wall's End, who, armed with her brother's sword Cursebreaker, is determined to find the lost city of Nivela, to find a stolen god.
• Aleya, who can give life to idol statues who also has the same destination in mind, to prove herself worthy.
• A soldier, Nylophon, and his journey as he pursues a certain person for one last duel.

The world building in this novel is inspired by Ancient Rome, Mesopotamia, and other empires, and the book itself revolves around identity, gods and their godhood, and the power of organized faith.

The book focuses more on the journey itself, so don't jump in expecting lots of fight scenes and all. I mean, there are fight scenes, but like, it's more uhhh...idk....lotr-ish? If that makes any sense??

The romance is not rushed and feels natural, and the characters were fun to read about. I like Kirby, most of all. And the ending made me feel things. A lot of things. Grace. What happened at the end? You can't just do that to me-*muffled yelling*

Anyways, five stars. I haven't had so much fun reading in such a while.

Thanks to DAW and NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh this was a delight to read. I fell in love with our characters very quickly but I think Kirby stole my heart. She’s in a precarious place at the beginning and her choices and decisions were heartbreaking. Watching her grow and flourish as a character was excellent!

I cannot forget our other characters either, and the development of all of them was very well done. The characters felt believable and very grounded to me. I particularly enjoyed the world building in this. The world is vast and there’s a lot going on. But it didn’t feel like we were being overloaded with information.

I do recommend this one for those that like those “we’re all going on a quest but we also need to sit around this campfire and bicker” vibes.

I will definitely want to pick up the next book and continue reading in this world!

Unfortunately this wasn't for me. The pacing was too slow, the writing a bit too simplistic, and the dialogue just not as compelling as I would've liked it to be. I didn't feel like I had a real grasp of or filled-in image of what this world was like. And while I loved the concept of this in theory, sadly it didn't work for me in execution.

I read the authors first book and really enjoyed it so I was excited to see this announced. You can definitely see their style has evolved and improved and I found this a really enjoyable read.

The world in Idolfire felt vast and well realised with us being introduced to many countries and cultures. Some of them are more fleshed out but it didn’t feel confusing or lacking at any point. The idea of stealing gods and using their power was interesting and not something I’d read before. Although this is a fantasy the actual use of magic isn’t overdone and feels realistic to the story.

The characters felt believable and their relationship was well handled. I really enjoyed watching them develop and grow with each other. The romance is there but it is definitely not the main plot.

At its heart this book is about the journey and what it can take from us but also what it gives. It’s poignant and poetic with flashes of humour that gives it a grounding and realness. I can’t wait to see what the author does next

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me and eArc

I was promised serious Xena vibes with this one, and it didn't disappoint. But make no mistake, this book is a story all on its own and goes in many different directions that are far from the Warrior Princess.
There's Aleya and Kirby, and their paths cross in a world full of gods and history and magic, and they go on a hero's journey together...for a time.
There's even a third person with a sad past and the need for redemption, and another voice that will not be revealed until the end.

It's character driven and it's sweet, but also tragic at times.
I loved this book, even though it took a while for me to kick in. And I especially loved the least 15% or so. I had not expected this.

4/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @dawbooks and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

#Idolfire #Netgalley #Bookstagram

As a big fan of the author's previous two sci-fi books, I was very excited to get an early copy of this first fantasy! In a world touched with spiritual magic, our two characters start on opposite ends of the map but are drawn to the same place for different reasons, eventually meeting and continuing their perilous quest together. Will either of our heroines accomplish their tasks, or will their adventure end in disaster on the road?

I thought this was going to be more of a cozy fantasy with some romance and a light humourous tone, but I think it wanted to be epic fantasy, and where it ended up was somewhere in the middle. I found the beginning a bit slow, as the author sets up the background of the two main characters, and I was confused at times, wondering if I’d missed something or if the author was keeping back information for a later reveal. However, once our two characters set off on their journeys and ultimately meet, I finally felt the adventure had actually begun. The tone often felt more YA - the romance is not overly spicy, and although it is cozy at times, the stakes are high as our heroines run from trouble. The characters had clear motives, but I didn't quite connect to them, and I thought one of the main characters overshadowed the other. The addition of the occasional second person perspective chapters was mostly confusing and I didn't quite understand how it all came together (I think personally this would improve for me on a reread).

The biggest strength is the world building, which was vivid and descriptive throughout, however, plot points or character actions at times felt contrived or convenient. I felt like the writing wasn’t quite as tight or flawless as the author’s previous efforts, though these minor quibbles didn’t take me completely out of the story. While slow paced, I did enjoy the road trip, but the ending lost me a bit and seemed to be resolved very quickly. The epilogue gave our characters a satisfying conclusion but was overly trite and convenient.

Overall, I liked this, and while I didn’t love it like the previous two sci-fi novels by the author, I’m still looking forward to reading whatever Grace Curtis writes!

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this one is very good as long as you’re willing to contend with the fact that the ending is not as cozy as the rest of the book. i liked the ending a lot— as well as the rest of the book— bc going TOO cozy rarely works for me, but i can see this ending being a little controversial especially as this is marketed as a cozy fantasy.

to be clear; it is, for the most part! funny, cozy adventure. just that there’s a little more going on here than the usual cozy fantasy, which can be a strength or not depending on what kind of reader you are. definitely one to give a chance to regardless.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the arc! This book was okay, but any enjoyment I had could be balanced with my frustrations. Here are some thoughts I had while and after reading:

I loved the formatting and second person… until I started to look closer. Simply, there’s no point to doing this. It didn’t add anything, it didn’t serve a purpose. Second person perspective is my favorite, but only because it usually adds something (typically emotional impact) to the story. In The Spear Cuts Through Water, it allows us to experience the book almost as if it’s a oral fable to be passed down. In Harrow the Ninth, the narrator is [REDACTED], which made me want to kill myself. In here, it’s functionally useless. It adds absolutely nothing. It’s like the author doesn’t realize why second person typically used. As a second person snob, I am vexed, peeved even.

I was not connected to the characters; I felt distant to them all. I grew to like Aleya, but seemingly everyone else drew nothing but apathy from me. As such, the romance was unconvincing and boring. Kirby and Aleya had naur chemistry.

This book was confusing in a muddled way. That comes from a lack of explanations, and some gaps in world building. Some things just happened just because? Many instances of dues ex machina -things coming straight out of buttfuck nowhere

The world lord is not mystifying and mysterious enough as a character despite the author trying to make her so. Instead, I was apathetic towards her the entire time. I wish we got to spend some more time with her, her psyche, and her past. We just needed much more time with them in general.

Elements to this story are just not fleshed out in general. It’s like if this book wants to be a literary epic fantasy, but doesn’t have a purpose, isn’t too memorable, is middling, and is too muddled and stretched thin to be epic.

Descriptions were nice though. Also some fun plot points like ocean tunnel and Viking village.

Some aspects of the world building I found interesting. I love the idea of idols, and how they were used in the story. Idolfire itself is also very badass.

Overall, the book was okay, if weak. I liked it. It had some good moments. I was engaged enough to not skim. That being said it’s held back by things mentioned. I do think Curtis writes decently and has some ideas that will continue to have me watching out for what they publish. Unfortunately, this has a lot of cool factors, but left me wanting and unsatisfied. -3.25 stars

Curtis’ fantasy debut is a beautiful, magical reimagining of the overlap between quests and pilgrimages. The distinct and enjoyable characters are established clearly early in the story, and collide to explore a world where magic and faith intertwine in the aftermath of empire.
Kirby hopes to restore her village by reclaiming their long-ago-stolen goddess Iona; Aleya must prove her worth to have a chance at ruling her city one day. Both require journeying to the sealed city of conquer Nivelus, which Curtis states was inspired by Rome, their notorious roads, and empire.
The story contains a heart-warming gradual sapphic romance that helps aid and highlight the characters’ growth, memorable side characters, and vivid descriptions. While I really enjoyed the book, there were moments of frustration around a few loose ends in the book, and though the ending and epilogue were a satisfying conclusion for the quest, <spoiler>the named characters’ ends felt incomplete with their abruptness</spoiler>.
Vaguely reminiscent of Kaner’s Godkiller with its adventure and the bond between faithless pilgrims, Curtis’ Idolfire balances plot and character to craft a narrative that invites the reader to join the journey. I would recommend to fantasy readers who want a mid-stakes adventure exploring the aftermath of a great and terrible empire alongside characters learning to define themselves among the unfamiliar.
Thank you to DAW for putting this book on NetGalley for review consideration, and allowing me access. All opinions are my own.

I had such a hard time rating this. It would have gotten 4 stars had the love story ended in a HEA. But I was expecting a sapphic romance full of slow-burn yearning, not a sad, realistic ending where the road-weary travelers part because of the gulf between their lives and only meet again as friends when they're old. I was gut punched by that ending.

I also wasn't sure how I felt about the tone. It was humorous with lots of casual banter, and the humor was the cringe kind that I hate. There was also a random chapter in second-person voice that really threw me off at first but I wanted more of that character as I read more from that perspective. But I loved the camping fantasy adventure aspect of the quest and Kirby and Aleya together. They were almost too slow burn though, without enough sexual tension for my taste. The focus was on the fantasy adventure, friendship, and found family, and not their love story, but they flirted enough that I was rooting for them to end up together despite their difficulties. They brought out the best in each other. I would have preferred them to stay friends throughout the whole book rather than the tease of a love story.

I loved two sapphics going camping together, one a scrappy innocent from Wall's End and the other a haughty princess from Ash. I loved how the villain in the story, the Carthic boy soldier, unexpectedly became part of their trio. All three had a lot to prove to themselves and each other. This is a very character-driven, adventure fantasy and the character development was the strongest part of the book. I felt like I really knew all the characters, understood their motivations and connected with them emotionally. The ending just wasn't cozy to me even though the rest of their adventure was fairly cozy.

I am okay with sad, realistic endings if my expectations are in line, like if it's litfic, for example; but I was expecting a HEA with that casual, breezy tone and I was disappointed ultimately by the pacing and narrative structure and lack of a HEA (happily ever after ending). The world is sad and realistic enough, so I want my romances to have HEAs even if they're unbelievable. I've read romances between princesses and commoners that had HEAs that worked for me so it can be done.

I had enjoyed the Floating Hotel from Grace Curtis and was invested in the way that was written. Idolfire was able to tell the story it needed to and was hooked from the first page. It had that fantasy world that I was looking for and was invested with the characters. Grace Curtis does a great job in writing this and was excited to read more in this world and author.

I went into Idolfire with some misconceptions (some of my own making, and some from the "science-fantasy" description in the blurb) which altered my reading experience. Based on Grace Curtis' previous works I was expecting, if not an outright scifi novel, a fantasy novel which still leaned on those tropes. In contrast, Idolfire is closer to Robin Hobb than Grace Curtis' previous works. None of this is negative at all, but it meant that it took me a little longer to really become involved in the tale. The pacing meanders.slowly during the epic journey which makes up the majority of the plot, but falters slightly when it picks up speed for the ending, which felt rather rushed. I enjoyed Kirby and Aleya as characters, and particularly watching them learn to interact with and understand one another. However, I found it incredibly difficult to warm to Nylo, regardless of how much redemption or explanation for his character was given. This was an absorbing book, with fascinating world-building underpinning it - however, for me, it was a case of right book wrong time.