"Spark of the Everflame" by Penn Cole had been on my TBR for ages, and thanks to a nudge from a friend, I finally jumped in. This book is a fantastic introduction to The Kindred's Curse Saga, plunging you into a world where mortals and gods collide. The Descended, the ruthless offspring of the gods, hold the power, keeping mortals in their place. If you're into slow-burn fantasy with a cliffhanger, this book is for you. Diem Bellator is a young woman who dreams of escaping her small village. When her mom vanishes without a trace, she's suddenly thrown into a world of Descended royalty, sinister secrets, and a political landscape full of danger. As she navigates this new territory, Diem finds herself surrounded by allies that are less than trustworthy and complex relationships that are anything but straightforward. Every interaction between Diem and the king's enigmatic heir is charged with energy and tension. There is an undeniable pull with him and she doesn’t know why. At the same time, she’s struggling to understand if her childhood best friend, who seems like the obvious choice is the person she should spend the rest of her life with. This story is all about the slow burn, the suspense, and the carefully orchestrated moments that will keep you eagerly flipping the pages. The world-building is refreshing, not overly complex, and was perfect for me who needed a book with a lighter mental load. The magic system is unique, and the characters are layered, each hiding their own secrets. There's plenty of action, mystery, and intrigue, and just when you think you have it all figured out, the book hits you with an epic cliffhanger. You'll want the 2nd book ready right away.

I picked this up on a whim then devoured it This book is incredibly well-written. Penn Cole’s narrative voice is captivating, and the inner monologue of the main character is both engaging and authentic. The flow of the prose is seamless, making it an absolute pleasure to read—I couldn’t put it down. I particularly love Prince Luther—his brooding, larger-than-life presence, and his evident care for Diem make him an intriguing character. Diem’s relationships with her family and teacher are equally well-developed, drawing you into her world and making you root for her. The world-building is beautifully done. The vivid descriptions of the Descended castle, the mortal slums, and their respective atmospheres paint a clear picture of Diem’s world, making it easy to visualize. The storyline is engaging, with a brewing war and tensions between the mortals and the Descended serving as the central conflict. While there isn’t a clear-cut antagonist, the story’s structure builds suspense and intrigue as Diem navigates the challenges she faces. It’s a compelling narrative with a clear direction, and it’s incredibly well-crafted. Overall, Spark of the Everflame is definitely one of my top books of 2024. The romance is tastefully done, with a touch of spice that adds to the story without overwhelming it—about 2 or 3 on the spice scale. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy stories about a protagonist discovering their inner strength, enemies who aren’t quite lovers, and a richly detailed world with strong characters, this book is a must-read.

First of all, I did enjoy this book. I think the magic and caste system is interesting. I like the characters and the plot. My only issue is the timeline. The story kind of felt directionless for me for a while. I feel like quite a bit of what happened wasn’t very necessary and the middle half could have been cut out. I will say it was worth it for the ending, which I did like! Looking forward to reading the next one.

I started this book at lunch one day and got to chapter 2. I then came home from work around four pm and started reading it again, and finished it at eight pm. Spark of the Everflame is probably one of my favorite books that I have ever read. This book is so well written. The inner monologue of the main character is really good, and I really love the Penn Cole’s writers voice. Everything just flows so naturally and it’s a super fun read. I didn’t want to stop reading it (obviously I didn’t) The flow of the story was good, and the way that the character makes decisions. Sometimes I was like “Oh my gosh, why?” and I could feel Diem’s anger and emotions. Some of her decisions -though I didn’t always agree with them- kept me on the edge of my seat and brought much more intrigue to the storyline. The characters are all very strong and standout. Diem’s snarky attitude is perfect, and so is her will to fight and be heard. In Henri you can see the fervent core beliefs that he lives by. He tries to protect her from his world at first, then he’s proud of her cause he thinks she believes the same things he does. I love the Prince Luther. He’s so broody and larger than life in Diem’s eyes. I love that you can see that he cares about Diem. Even Diem’s familial relationships are written so well and are so strong. You want her dad to be proud of her, you want her little brother to be in the gifted school, you want her teacher Maura to believe in her. The character conversations are excellent. The characters are what pull you into the story, and make you feel like you are right there with Diem. The world building is beautiful. The author describes the beauty of the Descended castle and town, the mortal slums and all its smells. It’s very easy to build a picture of what Diem is seeing in your minds eye. The storyline is really good. There’s no super clear antagonist (yet). There are some antagonistic characters throughout the story, but there’s not a specific antagonist. However the story builds up like it’s going to have one. If you look at it – the war that is brewing and the fighting between the mortals and the Descended is the antagonistic part of the story, which I really like. But the storyline is still clear – bad things are happening to her and she is trying to adjust and fight. It’s just so good. Like I said, this has got to be one of my favorite books that I’ve read, and definitely one of my top books of 2023. The spice is really good – it’s tastefully done and hasn’t gotten super spicy yet, but it’s so good. 2 or 3/5 on the spice scale. 5/5 stars. I recommend this for anyone who loves the MC finding power within themselves, enemies to not-quite-lovers, (but the feelings are there), and found power. It’s just a really great read with a great storyline, a beautiful world with strong characters that you get attached to so quickly. It comes out June 1st – and I recommend it! I received a free copy of this book from the author - all opinions and review is completely voluntary and 100% honest