"holy m*therf*cking sh*t, you guys. i have a new top book boyfriend.

this is book three of a series! check out reviews for book one here, and book two here!

listen, I KNEW I LOVED LUTHER. i knew i loved him from the minute he was mean and surly and protective of his little sister in spark. BUT ‘HEAT’ LUTHER??????? rip to me and my panties. the man is literally peak ‘man written by a woman’. he embodies everything you could possibly want in a partner, and if i could snap my fingers and make one fictional man real, it would be luther corbois every day of the week.

INDEPENDENT of my deep yearning for a man made of pages, CAN WE GET A LITTLE COMMOTION FOR THE PLOT OF THIS ONE!?!? because you guys, this is an instant top 3 of the year for me. maybe even top 2.

this sequel just opens up the world SO MUCH, letting us see into different kingdoms, all while balancing the worldbuilding and the plot and the romance so perfectly that it’s an utter feast in every direction. penn said here, have it all and i’m on my hands and knees begging for even more.

the overarching plot of this series really starts to come together in this one, as we slowly learn the truth of diem’s lineage and the secrets and mysteries shrouding her birth, life, and powers in general, all amidst the backdrop of a deeply intimate romantic connection with luther, the lighthearted-but-profoundly-loyal found family trope, and plot twist after plot twist. when i tell you that EVERY TIME you think you’ve caught your breath with this, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS to suck the oxygen from your lungs? i mean it. this is so twisty, it’s basically a labyrinth, but the kind that you absolutely want to get lost in and stay lost in.

this is absolutely, no question a master class in fantasy romance, and one of my all-time favorite series. i will be singing its praises until my voice goes hoarse.

IF YOU LIKE FANTASY ROMANCE, if you like plot-heavy stories with excellent worldbuilding, elemental magic, prophecies, found families, and SLOW, SLOW BURN physical chemistry, run immediately to kindle unlimited and start this series.

infinity stars, and a serious contender for my favorite book of the year.

thank you to penn for the ARC of this one, and for writing an MMC who puts every real life man i’ve ever known to shame."

"5 heart-shattering ✨
3 🌶️

✨First I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. As always this review is completely voluntary and honest.

✨ooooooohhhhhmygosh! Omg seriously I think every word that can share excitement and love needs to be used when explaining why I love this book and series. Penn gave us the SLOOOOWEST of slowburns but omg it’s well and worth the wait! And there’s more to these books than just the slowburn. The plot keeps you thoroughly invested as well as all the characters that form this found family and secondary characters. You can’t help but love and *hate* them.

✨Considering this is book 3 of 4 I can’t go too much into detail (because spoilers) but I can tell some of my favorite things. Watching Diem continue to grow with each each has been something I’ve loved. She makes decisions that make ME want to smack her but she learns from each one. She honestly broke my heart this book. Her learning to be open and realizing what she wants and has really just tumbled and smashed my emotions.

✨Luther is still too tier. Listen listen, remember how I said the way this man can take off a shoe?? 🫠🫠🫠 omg that was just BARELY SCRATCHING the surface. Holy hell lol I loved him before but I’m literal putty in his hands. He’s so attentive and protective. I adore possessive jealous Luther. His way with words 🫠🫠. We literally all need a man willing to go the lengths and have the faith in us that Luther has/done with Diem.

Please please give this series a chance! It’s absolutely 1000% worth it! 🩵🩵🩵"

"When I tell you this book HURT ME. I mean I was ugly crying at just 16%. Like full on “girl are you good?” sobbing. The tears didn’t stop flowing in between fits of laughter, gasps of surprise and yelling in anger. This is without a doubt a “throw your kindle at the wall multiple times” book. It’s incredibly frustrating (in a good way? is that possible?)

The amount of secrets revealed in this book will have you pacing the room chanting “no way! omg no way!!!!!!” It was one revelation after another. (of course not all secrets) Prepare your heart because I don’t think anyone could’ve been ready for the things we learn.

Diem really steps into who she really is in this book too. She relies heavily on her companions in book 1 & 2, but this book she drills down who she is and who she wants to be despite the opinions of those around her. It made me feel like a stronger person just reading it. It was incredibly inspiring and I think we can all see glimpses of ourselves throughout Diem’s journey.

There is absolute no relief for an anxious heart here. It is nonstop stress and turmoil. One chaotic event after another these characters DO NOT get a break. A lot of characters you love will stress you out, piss you off, and make you question what the hell they were thinking with some of the actions they take. This had me seriously considering whose side I was even on.

One sentence: the library scene

Diem and Luther’s relationship is definitely put through the wringer in the first half of this book and then absolutely explodes in the best way towards the second half. We get glimpses into Luther’s head (finally) and although I would absolutely die for a Luther POV, I’m definitely not disappointed. It was really relieving to see their love for each other blossom and I can’t wait to see how the two of them grow stronger in Burn.

When i tell you my heart dropped at the ending and a bawled my eyes out. I had to step back with only a few mins left in the book so I could cry. My partner literally had to hold me and rub my back to console me (yes he laughed.) I didn’t even cry this hard during KOA…

I can’t even begin to describe the betrayal Diem faces and I honestly don’t know how someone would come back from this with anything but hate in their heart. If you think you’ll feel any form of relief after reading this book, you would be wrong. This cliffhanger is brutal and I truly don’t know how my heart will be able to hold out for the last book.

This book is darker, spicier, and more violent than the first two books. If you have daddy issues, this book will make them worse. If you need me, I’ll be crying in the corner until Burn of the Everflame is in my hands and Penn rights all of her wrongs. She knows what she did.

Side note: someone does get stabbed in the dick and it’s very satisfying."