Thank you to author and publisher for the arc!

When I saw the hype around this book I was very nervous because I usually am not the target audience for popular books, but I was intrigued enough to request this book and I’m pleasantly surprised by how good this story was!

The beginning felt a bit upper-ya to me but eventually there was way more depth to the story and even some spice. I was very happy the spice didn’t overtake the story completely since that’s a common mistake in Romantasy.

I’m really excited to read the rest of this series!

So here’s the thing, Diem is a teensy tiny bit annoying, but you’ll Stan her anyway. Penn Cole is a phenomenal writer and whilst you’ll want to shake Diem until her teeth rattle you’ll also be screaming ‘GO ON GIRL!’ at the same time.

Spark (and the rest of the series) is absolutely one of my 5 star reads of 2024. I think about these books constantly, and I’m genuinely chewing my nails off waiting for book 4. I need desperately to know what happens next.

If you like slow burn, majestic world building, feisty (and pig headed) FMCs, banter, shadow daddies, tip top plot lines and just all round good fantasy, read this. You wont regret it.

Wow!! I've seen this book on Instagram and I can now see why it's so popular! The writing has such a good flow to it and the plot had me on the edge of my seat.

The main character Diem is still figuring things out. She's slowly knowing her own mind but she's not fully there yet. I can't wait to see where book 2 takes this character and the plot. I also can't wait to read more about her mum and get some answers.

There is amazing chemistry between Diem and Luther. I can't wait to see how this develops too.

This book was fantastic—I couldn't put it down and finished it all in one sitting. Diem, the main character, is both compelling and deeply relatable. Her struggle against injustice and her role as the backbone of her family added such emotional depth to the story. The slow-burn romance was beautifully paced, allowing readers to truly connect with each character, and the stakes for them felt incredibly high. The plot is rich with unique magic and vibrant characters that make it unforgettable. It’s bound to leave you captivated.

An exciting start to what promises to be a wonderful series!

Such a brilliant, unique story, I absolutely fell in love with Diem. She is a fantastic example of a well fleshed out FMC, I found it exciting to go on the journey of this book with her. And don’t even get me started on Luther 🥵🥵, I love a true slow burn romance and penn Cole really hit the nail on the head with this one. I also felt the world building was well fleshed out and was immersed in the story and characters. I was left with a good amount of intrigue and excitement. Can’t wait for the next books!

But I didn’t choose to be a healer, nor did I choose to take my mother’s role. And I didn’t want gentle or delicate. I wanted to burn.

This was GOOD.
Amazing even.
I am in love with this book. For real. It was love at first chapter.

✨ simple yet effective world-building
✨ feisty FMC learning along with us
✨ rebellions and oppressive rulers
✨ absolutely gone MMC. he is gone. I am gone
✨ slow burn so slow it barely even started

I am gonna be realistic and say this is probably like 4 stars, but since I'm in love I don't give a fuck and I'm giving it 5 stars. 🥰 This was so fast-paced, and fun, and the vibes were there. Sure, some things were a bit predictable, but since I wanted the plot to go in that direction, I'm not mad! I simply love an angry FMC. I love how they are not trying to make themself seem small or less than. I gobble that right up. Go set fire to all the bastards.

The future love interest is showing a lot of potential. I'm talking new book boyfriend potential.
Super excited about what's happening next and immediately starting the next book!
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

.Chosen one
.Enemies to lovers
.Secret identities
.Fated mates (maybe?)
.Caretaking when sick

I nearly DNF this book multiple times. It just didn't grab me in the beginning, but I kept strong and trusted the countless readers who said this book was fantastic. And I'm glad I’m stubborn as they get, because I began to see why it's so popular.

I’ll split this book in two segments. The first part dragged on a bit. And while I understand it’s necessary to introduce a new set of characters with their own idiosyncrasies, that there’s a world to be built and politics to be learnt, it did feel a little boring. If I were to rate this section alone, it would earn three stars. However, the second half is an entirely different story, deserving of a resounding five stars. Hence, the average rating of four stars.

Despite the slow start, I'm optimistic about the next book. There's potential for greatness, given the groundwork laid here. Diem is intriguing, albeit sheltered, and I'm eager to witness her character arc. Henri rubbed me the wrong way from the start, and Luther seems poised to become one of my favourite morally ambiguous villains (ehem… love interest). The supporting cast is equally interesting, and I'm eager to see how their stories intertwine in the sequel.

In this first book of four, we follow Diem Bellator, a young healer living in a world where mortals are despised by their rulers, offspring of the Gods known as the Descended. As she finds herself simultaneously drawn into the rebellion against the Descended and drawn to one of the Descended, she will have to decide where she stands and who she is.

I absolutely loved this book! This re-release of the original book (which was published in 2023) contains a bonus chapter from the point of view of secondary character Luther. As the rest of the book is from Diem's point of view, this provided a different take on the ending.
I have already added the sequel to my reading list for next month!

A recommended read for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ 1🌶️

The first in a four part high fantasy series, The Kindred’s Curse, Spark of the Everflame came highly recommended and it did not disappoint!

Diem is a healer living a simple life in an oppressed mortal world ruled by the Descended. After her mother’s unexplained disappearance, Diem is set on a journey of self-discovery to unravel her secret past and to save her family.

Spark of the Everflame was a really enjoyable read! The unique magic system and world building is creative and feels unique even if some of the themes and tropes are common across the Romantasy genre.

It’s not romance heavy, there’s more political intrigue/ royal drama / mystery guiding the plot than romance. I’ve previously seen it compared to ACOTAR but I’d say it’s more similar to TOG in terms of romance and spice levels!

I did find Diem frustrating in parts. She’s feisty, witty and clever, but then goes and makes terrible decisions which don’t quite align. The second half Diem supposedly despises Luther for reasons which aren’t really convincing and so I was on a true rollercoaster of “I absolutely love her” and “argh she is irritating” for a while!

But on the whole I really enjoyed it, the cliffhanger ending had me looking for book two immediately and I can’t wait to see how the series concludes!

I knew from the very first page that this book would be one of the best reads of 2024!

Spark of the Everflame is the first book in the Kindred Curse series and it was an absolutely incredible introduction. I have read so many romantasy books that I find the genre to be rather repetitive so this book blew me away with how much it stands out from the crowd. I fell absolutely in love with characters and the beautifully crafted world. Penn Cole truly has a way with words because this book flowed so naturally and I became completely immersed in the story. The romance was the cherry on top of this utterly perfect book!

I need to get my hands on the sequel immediately because I am so incredibly eager to find out what happens next!

The first half of this was rough because of how clumsy the setup of the characters, relationships and world felt to me as well as the lack of clear direction of the plot.
The second half worked better for me because I found myself intrigued more by what was happening and I think I got a better feel for Diem and why she's acting the way she does. Her seeming willful ignorance and reckless act-first-think-later behaviour can be pretty frustrating but there are also reasons for it, and she's called out by others. She's also still pretty young and has grown up sheltered away from what the other people around her had to deal with. I hope there'll be more character growth in the sequels for her.
It's nice to see that she has a loving family. I wish I would have got more of a feel for their personalities. The same goes for Diem's (boy)friend and other significant side characters that could have been flashed out better, in my opinion. I need a bit more from characters than being there to serve the plot.
The romance wasn't for me. A slow-burn enemies to lovers was promised, and that's not really what I found. The two only interact a handful of times and there's insta-lust. That's not what I'd personally consider a slow burn. The way Diem was kept away from the Descended, and most of their supposed cruelty against mortals, takes away from the enemies part. Overall, I missed actual relationship development which can't happen when the characters barely interact. It makes me question why they are so into each other. The author still managed to make me feel the tension between them but it feels meaningless to me without a solid foundation.
The plot could have been smoother as it felt quite jumpy like the characters are kinda forcibly yanked to where they are needed, less predictable, and there were a couple conveniences as well as not-quite-believable things happening like Diem accomplishing things that well-trained people haven't in a long time.
The prose was very readable, which adds to this book being more on the side of a relaxing read, in my opinion, something easy and fun, albeit not cosy, to read after a stressful day.
This ended up not being the book for me. I initially picked this up for the romance and it fell flat so I won't continue the series. The world seems interesting and I can see potential there. We have only seen a small part of it in this instalment, but I can imagine there will be more to explore in the sequels.

Thanks to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>I glared. "First of all, if you ever call me fragile again, I'll slice your precious royal balls off and shove them down your throat."
</b>
Diem Bellator is a healer living in the Mortal City, in a world invaded by the gods and ruled over years later by the Descended, their cruel and aloof offspring.

Her mother’s disappearance sees Diem taking over her duties as the Descended’s healer, caring for the dying King and constantly watched over by the (obviously gorgeous) heir. Not only must she reign in her burning anger and sharp retorts, she becomes aware of a violent mortal rebellion recruiting her to join the growing civil war.

I loved the sibling relationships! I always love seeing them represented in books and Teller was just the most funny, endearing, sweet younger brother!

<b>”What kind of sister would I be if I sent my favorite sibling-“
“You’re only sibling."
“My smartest sibling into the lion's den on his own?”</b>

This was fairly predictable - and I write this at 25% of the way in - knowing the romantic interest, the stirrings of a rebellion, Diem’s true heritage, power, and purpose. Yet, I understand why it’s so compelling to readers, especially those used to the YA/NA range.
One thing that did bother me was the repetition of <b>Burn</b> and <b>Fight</b> throughout. Every few pages repeated about four times. I get it, you’re angry. You want to fight. Either the foreshadowing was too heavy, or Penn Cole really wanted to get across the spark that’s always been inside Diem to set off the inferno.

Henri, one of the romantic interests (the childhood best friend) totally gave me Gale vibes from The Hunger Games.

And Luther… oh, Luther. Think Azriel, Casteel, Rhysand, Rowan, Raihn. Hard shell, soft, hidden, secretive, mysterious interior. Of course, the most powerful. The Prince. The protector.

<b>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. Inside, we rattled the bars keeping us trapped in lives we didn't choose. Inside, we roared with an insatiable craving for more.
Inside, we paced and we planned and we waited. Inside, we burned.</b>

I would recommend this if you enjoyed From Blood and Ash and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

(Also I’ve just finished book two - and OH MY WORD YES. I’m so excited.)

luther hello??? 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️

in all seriousness though, i really enjoyed this, i feel like it was slow at times but the characters were so good and the dynamics were just chefs kiss!! i really want to find out more about the world and how everything will pan out in the next book because i genuinely have no clue where we could go from here, the ending was so so shocking to me, but also plotted out so so well once you look back at all the strings tying it together