spark of the everflame was such an engaging read that really gripped me right from the start! it had such a good premise and I enjoyed the different fractions and aspects of the book we got to experience

deim ―୨୧⋆ ˚ I actually really liked deim's character although she was stupid and made decisions that made me want to throw the book across the room she was fearless, kind-hearted and a breath of fresh air. as far as fmc go in fantasy books deim is one I have had most fun reading so far this year, just down to how determined she was but how she could back it up. I absolutely rooted for her throughout

plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the plot itself was so engaging and the world building really brought the story to life in so many ways. but overall, the pacing of this book really fell flat for me. at times it felt like I couldn't get enough of the story and it was so engaging and then I would read the next chapter and it would be excruciating slow. the ending is probably a massive feeding quality for this book and now I NEED to read the second one. honestly this felt more like a prologue to the next few books opposed to an engaging fantasy book in its own right butttt I still enjoyed lost of parts of the book !!

overall, super enjoyable albeit a bit slow but something I kind of expect in fantasy novels setting up a 4 book series. ⭐️💌

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spark of the Everflame is a riveting romantasy. First off I loved the world-building, how social injustices are portrayed and the rebel movements. The plot is full of mystery and twists and turns, some are predictable but still enjoyable. The FMC (Diem) is feisty and frustrating. Her role as a healer was interesting to read about. I feel there was good character growth and hope this continues within the next book. BUT she is definitely one to make poor decisions. The MMC is very much a side character but I liked this, as this just built the tension for me, I was left wanting more and I hope he gets his air time going forward. The banter is great. I also love an animal companion in any book and there’s some amazing creatures that feature. Whilst this book may not win prizes for the writing, it’s highly addictive and I think it will only get stronger and stronger over the series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This was definitely interesting! I enjoyed the world building and I really liked the characters. Of course, as the first book in a series, there's a lot of explaining and details and the pace is slow, but I think it was a great start. Looking forward to the sequel!

This was definitely interesting! I enjoyed the world building and I really liked the characters. Of course, as the first book in a series, there's a lot of explaining and details and the pace is slow, but I think it was a great start. Looking forward to the sequel!

I was gifted this book by the publisher on Netgalley - it was already on my TBR.

I very much enjoyed this book, Diem as a FMC is very relatable, and even though I suspected where the book would end, it was still done extremely well and did the book justice. Her knack for saying what she thinks and getting herself into trouble was entertaining to say the least, and her interactions with Luther have some real chemistry happening that I can't wait to read more about. I finished this book yesterday and am already a quarter of the way through book 2, which is so far even better than the first. I have a feeling I'll be finished with book 3 by midweek. 5⭐

Finally got to reading this book and I’m very much into it! I wish NetGalley would give you the option to do half stars, this was a 3,5 for me.

This definitely felt like the first book in a series. A lot of explaining and getting to know the world and the characters. It was definitely interesting enough to keep me reading, but I have a feeling that the next Books will be more of my alley (I hope!)

It was definitely a good start and I’m intrigued to continue this series!

I've been reading lots of dark romances recently so this was a refreshing read, I enjoyed it through out and would definitely recommend this to others!

This book! While some of it was predictable and things I’ve seen before, it was highly enjoyable and so much fun. I was dragged into the story pretty fast, and it only got better. I need more of this. It can’t just stop there.

I have so many questions and theories for this series. I can’t want to see where this will go.

I remember hearing about this book years ago and now with the traditionally published release, I’ve been able to read it. I regret that it took me so long to get to this story!
Penn Cole has constructed a really interesting world and characters who are torn in so many directions. I like the mystery of Diem’s parentage (though it’s more like Diem’s increasing awareness and not wanting to admit it) and how she is torn about her future, about her abilities to change the world. The ending was a plot twist - did not see that coming - and I am so excited to pick up the next one!

The world building in this book is fantastic. The plot is a slow build but it still managed to keep me engaged and turning the pages needing to know what was going to happen next. I felt fully immersed in this magical, yet relatable, place with how descriptive the writing is. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us if this one was only dipping our toes into this world. Diem is so strong and stubborn and I am here for it. Luther is mysterious and I cannot wait to peel back the layers and find out more about him!!

OMG, I finally know what all the hype is about. This book was everything I was looking for and so much more. For a debut novel especially this was just amazing. The characters are so perfectly imperfect, so real with real problems and yet we are in this fantasic fantasy world with injustice and mysteries. Couldnt put it down and read this book in one setting. One of the best reads of this year and will be reading the second book after writing this review
What I liked:
- the characters and their dynamics, the family, the friends, the strangers. The conversations felt real and not awkward and placed. We have strong family bonds but family always includes conflict and we have enough of that
- the world building and magic system in general were just amazing, I was drawn in and I want to know so much more about the world and its workings
- the romance that is building on the horizon, I already knew this was going to be an overall slow burn and I am so here for it. I hate insta-love and this is just so much better, Im just much more invested in the romance
- the writing was great, not too flowery but not too little detail just perfect amount

What I didnt like:
honestly dont even know, fantastic read, no complains from my side

Thanks to netgalley and Headline for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

‘Don’t choose a mediocre life for a mediocre man. Go be exceptional. And if he’s really he one, he’ll come along for the ride’

Overall I loved this book! Whilst it follows a similar structure to many other fantasy novels there’s something about this one that seems unique.

I loved the world building in this. The magic system was so interesting - the fact that different factions have different coloured eyes and that relates to their powers. And you could really feel the tensions building in the world - the poor ‘normal’ people vs the rich powered people.

I was really invested in the rebel uprising - how it seemed to bring people from all walks of life together in a unified cause of stopping the tyranny of the crown. A secret rebellion group that’s unhappy with how society is - wanting to go against the current government.

What I found interesting here was the moral dilemma Diem faced - she wanted ‘vengeance’ for how the Descendants treated her people but she didn’t want that to come at the cost of innocent descendants. I’m really intrigued to see how her needing to ‘choose a side’ plays out in future books.

Diem was such a badass FMC. I loved how confident she was in her abilities, not only as a healer but also in fighting. She never shied away from standing up for herself and others.

The tension she has with Luther - the way they challenge each other and she says what she thinks. The fact she could literally be executed for treason the way she speaks to him, yet she does it anyway. I was obsessed with their relationship! A very slow burn enemies to lovers that was just so well written - you could feel the way they antagonised each other yet he was so protective of her.

I loved the juxtaposition of the two romance options and how they paralleled the two factions in her society - Henri of the uprising, who wants to give her a safe quiet life, and Luther of the Descendants, who challenges her and pushes her to see her ‘true’ self.

Overall this has similar vibes to Red Queen and is the perfect choice if you want a badass FMC, rebel uprisings, a morally grey MMC with shadow powers and an amazing cast of side characters.

ARC copy provided by Headline & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐

I loved Diemm and Luther and I even loved more the story itself. I found Diem to be a flawed, realistic and interesting character and I enjoyed her story in this book!

I wanted to love this book but unfortunately it just didn't grip me. The main character comes across as naive with no real depth. The pace is slow and the storyline just felt unoriginal.

“Don’t choose a mediocre life for a mediocre man. Go be exceptional. If he’s worth it, he won’t judge you. And if he’s really the one, he’ll come along for the ride.”

👑 Found Family
🔥 Sloooooow Burn
👑 Unique Magic System
🔥 Forbidden Love
👑 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Demi Gods

I have to admit I had high hopes for this series, and it did not disappoint! You know a book is good if you are trying to balance your kindle in one hand and cook with the other. Trying to tear myself away was torturous.

Penn Cole’s writing is captivating, you’ll escape realty to a world of secrets and lies, where magic means power and nothing is quite as it seems. Where the relationships are oh so complicated and the characters incredibly complex.

“War is death and misery and sacrifice. War is making choices that will haunt you for the rest of your days.”

Diem has been surrounded by legends her whole life, her mother a greatly respected healer with a never ending amount of secrets and her adopted father, The Commander, who is both feared and admired in equal measures. Her quest to be worthy of greatness herself leads her to some questionable but understandable decisions. Especially as she is stuck between both the Descendants and the Guardians, both pulling her in opposite directions.

“Each side was convinced they were fighting for good, each of them believing that the killings they committed were righteous and justified to prevent the deaths of innocents.”

Diem will have you cheering her on as she learns to stand on her own two feet, hiding behind your hands and peeking between your fingers to see what decision she’ll make next, especially when she makes mistakes. You’ll feel her conflict and her guilt. You’ll follow her as she finds her boundaries. And throughout it all you’ll start to fall in love with these characters.

“I hid behind false bravado and snarky jokes, while Luther’s shield was forged with brooding stares and clenched jaws—but inside, we were one and the same.”

Every scene with Diem and Luther had me holding my breath. These two only have to glance at each other and you feel the tension. I absolutely live for a slow burn enemies to lovers romance and this book delivered.

“It would be an insult to dismiss you so easily, and I wouldn’t dare do you that disrespect. I recognize a threat when I see one.”

I have to admit, every time Henri made an appearance I pulled a face. Penn Cole has done so well to pull every emotion out of me with this book I swear.

“What if our story isn’t over, Diem Bellator? What if it’s only beginning?”

In a world where everyone has secrets, I am expecting the rest of the series to be even more intense as they are revealed. I can’t wait!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story is told in first person by the character Diem. She's a healer in the mortal city. Her mother dissappears, and she ends up suddenly learning a lot more about the descended and their world as she finds herself in it. The descended are essentially the descendants of mortal and God-like couples who have no basically outlawed inter relations to preserve their magic.

There are lots of characters, some good, some not so much, but i had my immediate dislikes, and i feel like i was justified in my dislike by the end. I loved Diem she's a healer, which would make you think she could be a passive character. She is anything but. She is full of attitude and can easily hold her own and kick ass!

The story was nicely paced, and Diem learns about secrets that were hidden from her by people close to her as well as uncovering other secrets. There's a nice little slow burn enemies to lovers thing going on a well.

I'll be starting the next book after that little surprise at the end, even though I had a feeling that could happen.

This book is well worth the read and is a great start to the series!

Wow, adored this book! Diem is a healer with a warriors heart. After the disappearance of her mother, she takes up her mantle as the healer at the descended palace. Only to learn that the hated descended may not be as evil as she believed. Diem begins to question everything she's ever known and finds her loyalties pulled in different directions.
This is a brilliant fantasy romance. The world building is unique and clever. The characters are great. I love Diem who's strong, yet flawed and desperate to make the world she lives in a kinder, safer place. There's lots of twists and turns and the romance??? I really can't wait to get into the next book to see what happens. This book was a really refreshing addition to the genre and one every lover of fantasy romance needs to get reading if you haven't done so already.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

I went into this book completely blind. I had seen a few mixed reviews on TikTok and decided to find out myself what it was all about. HOLY COW. Diem is a force to be reckoned with. She takes everything that is throw at her in stride and doesn’t look back. I loved the relationship between her and her patients. The compassion and love she was able to show was amazing. I will say, I was getting annoyed with her naive she was being over what she truly was, especially knowing what her father was. I was so thrown off by the ending, I really never expected it. I can’t wait to see where her story goes from here!

I don't remember exactly when I added this book to my wishlist, but it feels like this book was everywhere the last few months. People were collecting the indie editions now they were out of print, people were ordering the new editions. It made me extra curious and when I saw the book on Netgalley I therefore didn't hesitate and wished for a copy. Luckily Headline granted me one and this week it was time to start reading.

This book was a surprise in every way. Firstly I absolutely loved the world building, magic and mythology. There are no large info-dumps in this book, so I'm pretty sure we don't know everything yet and we for sure don't understand everything yet, but the author does an amazing job giving the world a familiar feel, and therefore making it easier to feel comfortable reading about it, while also giving it a slight magical touch.

Secondly I love the heroine of the story and her growth through the story. It's quite clear her journey has only just started, but the author did an amazing job introducing her to us and building up towards that very last chapter. By then the plot twist didn't come out of nowhere anymore, but I can't wait to see what will happen now in the next book. This is gonna change everything. Her relationships, her position in the world and most of all how she looks at herself and the world around her.

And thirdly I loved the romance, although I wanted to see more of these two together and hope that they're forced to interact a lot more in the next book, I loved the politics and I loved the writing of this book. It doesn't happen often that I forget the entire world around me while reading. Luckily I had to leave the bus at its final stopt, else I would have surely missed it! I can't wait to get the next book and to continue this amazing journey and story.

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole is an absolute must-read for any romantasy lover. This BookTok sensation lives up to the hype, delivering a richly woven tale that combines epic world-building with characters you can’t help but get deeply invested in. Diem Bellator, a healer with a fierce will, is a breath of fresh air. Her journey from her small village to the dangerous realm of the Descended pulls you right in, and her morally grey, enemies-to-lovers tension with the darkly enigmatic heir, Luther, is everything fans of the genre crave.

Cole's world-building is mesmerizing—detailed yet not overwhelming, bringing Emarion and its powerful Descended rulers vividly to life. I’m a fan of complex settings, and this book nails it with layers of lore and high stakes that make the story feel immersive. The blend of classic romantasy tropes is done masterfully; nothing feels forced, and every moment feels natural and compelling. From the “who did this to you” vibes to the protective “touch her and die” moments, Spark of the Everflame taps into every romantic fantasy trope in the best way possible.

If you enjoy deeply flawed, realistic characters, Diem and Luther’s chemistry is the icing on an already perfect cake. Their interactions are charged with tension, and their individual journeys feel meaningful, adding an extra layer of depth to the romance. Diem's courage and vulnerability, paired with Luther's brooding protectiveness, make this story an unforgettable start to what promises to be an epic series.

I devoured this book in two days and can’t recommend it enough!