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Flame and Blade #1
Flame and Blade
He’s a fire mage who’s lived his entire life on the wrong side of the King’s law.
She’s a guard desperate to prove herself.
Together, they will enter the legendary Demon Forest.
Vethe Scarvian is a direct descendant of the man who almost destroyed humanity. And that plus a couple of coppers will buy him another beer.
When his aunt reveals the existence of a long-lost betrothal agreement hidden somewhere in the ruins of the Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman betrothed to him would be willing to pay to escape that contract.
He just has to find the contract first.
Lyria Guardia let her family down and got her heart broken. Gods help her, that will never happen again.
After a crushing betrayal by the man she’d built her life around, Lyria abandons her promising career with the Adventurer’s Guild and returns, humiliated and heartbroken, to the Guard’s Guild that her family has run for hundreds of years. Determined to regain her position and prove herself to her five brothers, Lyria is willing to accept any assignment.
Even if that means she has to drag some spoiled noble brat through the Demon Forest in search of a mysterious missing contract.
The Flame and The Blade is the first book in a new romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of forbidden magic, dangerous adventure, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
She’s a guard desperate to prove herself.
Together, they will enter the legendary Demon Forest.
Vethe Scarvian is a direct descendant of the man who almost destroyed humanity. And that plus a couple of coppers will buy him another beer.
When his aunt reveals the existence of a long-lost betrothal agreement hidden somewhere in the ruins of the Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman betrothed to him would be willing to pay to escape that contract.
He just has to find the contract first.
Lyria Guardia let her family down and got her heart broken. Gods help her, that will never happen again.
After a crushing betrayal by the man she’d built her life around, Lyria abandons her promising career with the Adventurer’s Guild and returns, humiliated and heartbroken, to the Guard’s Guild that her family has run for hundreds of years. Determined to regain her position and prove herself to her five brothers, Lyria is willing to accept any assignment.
Even if that means she has to drag some spoiled noble brat through the Demon Forest in search of a mysterious missing contract.
The Flame and The Blade is the first book in a new romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of forbidden magic, dangerous adventure, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2020
532 people are currently reading
2687 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Hart
24 books98 followersRaised by wolves in the mountains of Colorado, Meredith Hart traveled the world to seek her fortune, fell in love with a half-elf ranger, and now lives in a cabin deep in the Maine woods where she writes steamy fantasy romance with snarky, reluctant heroes and the warrior women who love them.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
December 27, 2023
This book is free on Amazon (Canada) today (12/27/2023). 🙂
✅ Action and pace
✅ Magic
✅ Banter
✅ Sexual tension and romance
✅ Gloomy forest and demons
✅🆗 Characters
✅🆗 Plot
✅🆗 World-building
This is a quick and entertaining read if you can get past the weird cover (although they have a new edition for this series now with much better covers)!
Lyria was a leader of the Adventurer's Guild, until she found out that her lover and superior was cheating on her. She then decided to return to her family's guild, the Guards. Vethe is a wild mage barely surviving with the money he makes as an assassin. When Vethe's aunt hires a guard to escort him into the Demon Forest to look for a betrothal contract hidden in centuries-old ruins, Lyra finds herself forced to work with this grumpy mage. What was supposed to be an easy mission quickly turns out to be a succession of monsters, gloomy woods and demons, with some sexual tension and banter sprinkled over it all.
Vethe's family is a noble one, but in name only, as they are nearly bankrupt, making Vethe grumpy and resentful. Lyra is proud and badass, and she doesn't want to be saddled with a useless noble so from the very beginning, this unlikely match promised to be interesting and entertaining.
The chemistry between the two main characters was great, and I really enjoyed their banter. This book was a nice mix of action and magic, with a nice touch of humor. Vethe is a funny and rakish hero (who also happens to be handsome and sexy), and Lyria is a serious warrior, trying to get over her heartache and remain professional. There is sexual tension between the two of them and some steamy scenes, but nothing over the top. Overall this book is a good mix of smooth romance and fantasy.
The majority of the book is about Lyria and Vethe traveling in the Demon Forest, fighting demons, and trying to keep their hands off each other. The story does not end with a cliffhanger, but there are definitely many things to be developed and resolved in the next book. Overall, this book was a very nice surprise, it is funny, and light, and I really liked it! It's nothing new or original, thee tropes are all things I've seen before, but the author managed to write an entertaining story that makes me want to read the next book to see what happens to Lyra and Vethe.
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✅ Action and pace
✅ Magic
✅ Banter
✅ Sexual tension and romance
✅ Gloomy forest and demons
✅🆗 Characters
✅🆗 Plot
✅🆗 World-building
This is a quick and entertaining read if you can get past the weird cover (although they have a new edition for this series now with much better covers)!
Lyria was a leader of the Adventurer's Guild, until she found out that her lover and superior was cheating on her. She then decided to return to her family's guild, the Guards. Vethe is a wild mage barely surviving with the money he makes as an assassin. When Vethe's aunt hires a guard to escort him into the Demon Forest to look for a betrothal contract hidden in centuries-old ruins, Lyra finds herself forced to work with this grumpy mage. What was supposed to be an easy mission quickly turns out to be a succession of monsters, gloomy woods and demons, with some sexual tension and banter sprinkled over it all.
Vethe's family is a noble one, but in name only, as they are nearly bankrupt, making Vethe grumpy and resentful. Lyra is proud and badass, and she doesn't want to be saddled with a useless noble so from the very beginning, this unlikely match promised to be interesting and entertaining.
The chemistry between the two main characters was great, and I really enjoyed their banter. This book was a nice mix of action and magic, with a nice touch of humor. Vethe is a funny and rakish hero (who also happens to be handsome and sexy), and Lyria is a serious warrior, trying to get over her heartache and remain professional. There is sexual tension between the two of them and some steamy scenes, but nothing over the top. Overall this book is a good mix of smooth romance and fantasy.
The majority of the book is about Lyria and Vethe traveling in the Demon Forest, fighting demons, and trying to keep their hands off each other. The story does not end with a cliffhanger, but there are definitely many things to be developed and resolved in the next book. Overall, this book was a very nice surprise, it is funny, and light, and I really liked it! It's nothing new or original, thee tropes are all things I've seen before, but the author managed to write an entertaining story that makes me want to read the next book to see what happens to Lyra and Vethe.
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November 1, 2021
This story is bleak and stupid with characters who are venal and directionless. And at not-quite 25 percent, the two main characters haven't even met, yet. That's just way too long. Not that I expect any kind of bonus when/if they do. They're stupid and venal in completely different ways that I don't see being much of a fit.
And it doesn't help that we meet Vethe finishing up with a prostitute thinking "I'm glad she's all business, this is great" and then getting all pissy when she tells him this is the last time because she's moving on to a better life with someone else. Poor Vethe, his favorite toy found a better life. And I'm supposed to like this guy why? And don't get me started on the dumpster fire that is his family.
And we get to join Lyria as she blows up her life because she's a clueless idiot unaware that the guy who moved her out of his rooms might be sleeping with someone else. I felt for her, at least a little bit, but drinking herself stupid and ruminating on all the clues she "missed" isn't endearing her to me.
So we have naïve meets jackwad and frankly, I hope both fall into an open sewer and swim out to sea. I have zero desire to continue because so far, there's no story here. I can't believe Vethe is giving the time of day to his crazy-pants aunt. And the whole plan, if the blurb is to be believed, is to extort money from some woman who doesn't know he exists to get out of a "contract" that was supposedly setup five generations ago. Because that's how anything works. I've done me enough genealogy to know that it only takes a generation or two for them to stop lining up. Having the sixth generation heir of one house betrothed to the sixth generation heir of another isn't going to have an age-gap so much as an age-chasm.
Anyway, I've now thought way harder than I wanted to about this book. One star, and it doesn't deserve that one, but there's no lower rating to give...
And it doesn't help that we meet Vethe finishing up with a prostitute thinking "I'm glad she's all business, this is great" and then getting all pissy when she tells him this is the last time because she's moving on to a better life with someone else. Poor Vethe, his favorite toy found a better life. And I'm supposed to like this guy why? And don't get me started on the dumpster fire that is his family.
And we get to join Lyria as she blows up her life because she's a clueless idiot unaware that the guy who moved her out of his rooms might be sleeping with someone else. I felt for her, at least a little bit, but drinking herself stupid and ruminating on all the clues she "missed" isn't endearing her to me.
So we have naïve meets jackwad and frankly, I hope both fall into an open sewer and swim out to sea. I have zero desire to continue because so far, there's no story here. I can't believe Vethe is giving the time of day to his crazy-pants aunt. And the whole plan, if the blurb is to be believed, is to extort money from some woman who doesn't know he exists to get out of a "contract" that was supposedly setup five generations ago. Because that's how anything works. I've done me enough genealogy to know that it only takes a generation or two for them to stop lining up. Having the sixth generation heir of one house betrothed to the sixth generation heir of another isn't going to have an age-gap so much as an age-chasm.
Anyway, I've now thought way harder than I wanted to about this book. One star, and it doesn't deserve that one, but there's no lower rating to give...
January 24, 2020
5 '🔥fire🔥' stars
When is the next book coming out? I need it now! I needed it yesterday!! Damn, don't keep me waiting!!! Pretty please 😊😊
So, now that this is out of my system, I can officially start my review. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of the cover. Why do women on covers who hold swords always look like they have no idea what they are doing?! *roll eyes* But no worries, Lyria absolutely knows what to do with the sword. And the dagger. And pretty much any other weapon. She really is a warrior kick-ass. However, despite the awkward handling of the sword, I like that both characters on the cover match description in the book.
And since I already mentioned Lyria, I'll start with her. She's a member of the Guard guild, which means her job is basically to escort nobles (and anyone with enough money to hire a guard) from one destination to another. And that's how he meets Vethe.
Vethe is a noble in name only. His family is almost bankrupt, their estate no more than a ruin and on top of that he's a wildmage which is punishable with a death sentence. Quite a catch, right? Well, Lyria think that despite her irritation with him LOL
Yeah, they get along just fine 😄
More than fine if I may say so 😏
Lyria and Vethe go on "an adventure" to find some precious document from his long-dead ancestor. And what should have been an easy trip soon turn out to be a barley-escape-with-their-life sort of thing with all kinds of trouble like demons, Citadel mages, stubborn donkeys and trying to find time to fuck each other to oblivion. You know, the usual business.
Overall, I loved everything about the book. The world building, the magic system, the storyline, the characters, the chemistry between Vethe and Lyria. They make such an amazing team. And I just love the easy banter between them. Honestly, I can't get enough of them. So, you understand why I need the next book asap!
**********************************
The ARC of this book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Meredith!
When is the next book coming out? I need it now! I needed it yesterday!! Damn, don't keep me waiting!!! Pretty please 😊😊
So, now that this is out of my system, I can officially start my review. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of the cover. Why do women on covers who hold swords always look like they have no idea what they are doing?! *roll eyes* But no worries, Lyria absolutely knows what to do with the sword. And the dagger. And pretty much any other weapon. She really is a warrior kick-ass. However, despite the awkward handling of the sword, I like that both characters on the cover match description in the book.
And since I already mentioned Lyria, I'll start with her. She's a member of the Guard guild, which means her job is basically to escort nobles (and anyone with enough money to hire a guard) from one destination to another. And that's how he meets Vethe.
“Look, I appreciate your help,” she snapped. “But I’m pretty sure that was about as much excitement as your bloodline can handle.”
“Oh? This is about my bloodline now?”
Vethe is a noble in name only. His family is almost bankrupt, their estate no more than a ruin and on top of that he's a wildmage which is punishable with a death sentence. Quite a catch, right? Well, Lyria think that despite her irritation with him LOL
Damn it all, why did that absolutely infuriating wildmage noble scum have to have such a fine backside?
Yeah, they get along just fine 😄
“Between you and me,” I said, lowering my voice conspiratorially, “I can go all night.”
More than fine if I may say so 😏
Lyria and Vethe go on "an adventure" to find some precious document from his long-dead ancestor. And what should have been an easy trip soon turn out to be a barley-escape-with-their-life sort of thing with all kinds of trouble like demons, Citadel mages, stubborn donkeys and trying to find time to fuck each other to oblivion. You know, the usual business.
Overall, I loved everything about the book. The world building, the magic system, the storyline, the characters, the chemistry between Vethe and Lyria. They make such an amazing team. And I just love the easy banter between them. Honestly, I can't get enough of them. So, you understand why I need the next book asap!
“He’s my brother.”
“Oh? You have a brother?”
“Five.” Lyria gave a soft, contented giggle. “I have five brothers.”
“Mmmm,” I murmured, running my fingers through her hair. “Five brothers. Should I be afraid for my life?”
“No. I could kill you myself, wildmage. I don’t need my brothers for backup.”
**********************************
“If we’re attacked by a demon horde, my Lady Guard,” I replied, “then I will go to my heroic death defending you.”
“I think you mean I’ll go to my heroic death defending you.” She snorted in a way that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
The ARC of this book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Meredith!
March 5, 2020
I'm a simple lady. I see a guy with pretty long hair, I click. Haven't read it yet, but already this book has brownie points.
I read it! I love fantasy. I love super cheesy romance. I love sitting-in-the-edge-of-your-seat tension. Oh happy days! Yeah there was some silly moments of over the top misunderstanding. Listen, I didn't care. this kind of genre is right up my alley so things like that I tend to forgive easily. :) love it!
I read it! I love fantasy. I love super cheesy romance. I love sitting-in-the-edge-of-your-seat tension. Oh happy days! Yeah there was some silly moments of over the top misunderstanding. Listen, I didn't care. this kind of genre is right up my alley so things like that I tend to forgive easily. :) love it!
July 14, 2025
Demons, magic, guilds, and a spicy romance? Yes please.
I feel like I'm really finding some hidden gems on KU at the moment!
I'll also look out for the next book, and hope that it comes out sometime in the near future!
Might do a in depth review later if I end up re-reading.
Also
Also, I got me some burning (pun intended) questions about the demons and Citadel that I need answers to!
I feel like I'm really finding some hidden gems on KU at the moment!
I'll also look out for the next book, and hope that it comes out sometime in the near future!
Might do a in depth review later if I end up re-reading.
Also
Also, I got me some burning (pun intended) questions about the demons and Citadel that I need answers to!
January 27, 2021
Bounce approved buddy read with Maraya and Nenia
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I freaking lurve this book. I'm just so bloody excited about it.
Sometimes I just have to cut loose and read a good romance. Sow those wild oats with something steamy.
And what makes this double good is that it's a fantasy with a cool ass adventure. Complete with a badass sword wielding chick. A hot as sin fire mage. An unruly donkey and a few "run for your life" "pissing in my pants" demons. Fun? Right? You bet it is!
I could not put this book down. Meredith Hart's writing is phenomenal. She really sucks you into a blackhole of which there is no escape until you are finished. My son thought there was going to be dinner. My work thought I was going to work. HAHAHA!
Silly fools. They do not understand a GOOD BOOK!
As of January 2021 the second book In The Shadows Of The Citadel has been out for 8 months and already the third book Dark Waters is set to be released very soon. It's going to be Vethe's sister, Anette's story. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
Meredith Hart also writes as Samantha MacLeod.
February 3, 2021
⚔️ "Skinny Witcher Lookalike" BR with Trash Panda & Bouncy @ Weaponized Pineapples ⚔️
Bouncy & the Trash Panda loved this. I did like it. But..
The first 75% of the books was really good — well written and well paced, with good dialogue and good characters — and then last 25% turned stupid.
Seriously the last 25% was stupid. Everything was stupid. It completely put me off the story, so much so that I pushed myself to finish this. I spread read at the end.
Still, I am a bit curious as to where this story is going. Cause let me tell you we didn't find out anything in this book. This was more of a set up and a way for the couple to meet, than anything else.
I'll give book #2 a chance, see what's what.
🌟 3.5 Stars 🌟
Bouncy & the Trash Panda loved this. I did like it. But..
The first 75% of the books was really good — well written and well paced, with good dialogue and good characters — and then last 25% turned stupid.
Seriously the last 25% was stupid. Everything was stupid. It completely put me off the story, so much so that I pushed myself to finish this. I spread read at the end.
Still, I am a bit curious as to where this story is going. Cause let me tell you we didn't find out anything in this book. This was more of a set up and a way for the couple to meet, than anything else.
I'll give book #2 a chance, see what's what.
January 21, 2021
I loved this! Vethe is literally smoking 🔥 hot 🥵 I’d do almost anything for him too, shit. Lyria is badass if I do say so myself. The chemistry between her and Vethe was great and I enjoyed their back and forth banter. It gave us some humor while dealing with some serious issues at the same time. Both characters are beautiful and strong. I’m looking forward to beginning the next book.
January 28, 2020
When do demons come to call? When rains fall, when rains fall.
A thrilling adventure of fantastic magic and relatable heros, filled with romance and danger. I loved it from the very first pages.
A thrilling adventure of fantastic magic and relatable heros, filled with romance and danger. I loved it from the very first pages.
February 25, 2020
I always love a badass heroine
April 29, 2020
Ohhh really liked this, and looking forward to the next installment! Solid 4-4.5 for me.
I won't bother with the description of Vethe and Lyria, as the book's synopsis does a pretty stellar job of telling you the important bits. For once (in a long long while)...here is a book that was well paced, well thought out, with sufficient world-building to set the tone but not so much that it overwhelms the reader.
Lyria and Vethe had pretty good chemistry, but something *special* was missing for me. I can't put my finger on what it was, as this was a stellar read with lots of hot moments. I suppose, I was missing more a push/pull, enemies-to-lovers type relationships. When they met for the first time, they both judged one another harshly (him: rich and bratty noble; her: stoic and stodgy guard). I wish there had been more of a tangible reason for them to dislike one another--perhaps even a societal one. Lyria didn't seem too surprised or scared when she discovered Vethe was a wild mage. I feel this would have been a missed opportunity for her to hate him just a little more at first. Vethe could have hated Lyria, as well, for...perhaps being associated with the Citadel? Since he was an outsider? I dunno, I think they fell into lust/love/boning just a little too easily. I mean...
Anyways, these are more or less little things, and I think they'll be more fleshed out in later books. The inordinate amount of time in the book describing Vethe's family (particularly his mother) should hopefully also come into play (or else...why is it there?).
I won't bother with the description of Vethe and Lyria, as the book's synopsis does a pretty stellar job of telling you the important bits. For once (in a long long while)...here is a book that was well paced, well thought out, with sufficient world-building to set the tone but not so much that it overwhelms the reader.
Lyria and Vethe had pretty good chemistry, but something *special* was missing for me. I can't put my finger on what it was, as this was a stellar read with lots of hot moments. I suppose, I was missing more a push/pull, enemies-to-lovers type relationships. When they met for the first time, they both judged one another harshly (him: rich and bratty noble; her: stoic and stodgy guard). I wish there had been more of a tangible reason for them to dislike one another--perhaps even a societal one. Lyria didn't seem too surprised or scared when she discovered Vethe was a wild mage. I feel this would have been a missed opportunity for her to hate him just a little more at first. Vethe could have hated Lyria, as well, for...perhaps being associated with the Citadel? Since he was an outsider? I dunno, I think they fell into lust/love/boning just a little too easily. I mean...
Anyways, these are more or less little things, and I think they'll be more fleshed out in later books. The inordinate amount of time in the book describing Vethe's family (particularly his mother) should hopefully also come into play (or else...why is it there?).
March 7, 2020
4.5.
I enjoyed this a lot! Vethe and Lyria had great chemistry and the world building, whilst light, was good.
If you like light fantasy romance, tough heroines and belligerent, yet appealing male leads, then you can't go wrong with this book really!
I enjoyed this a lot! Vethe and Lyria had great chemistry and the world building, whilst light, was good.
If you like light fantasy romance, tough heroines and belligerent, yet appealing male leads, then you can't go wrong with this book really!
Want to read
September 21, 2024🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/19/2020)! 🎁
February 17, 2022
Really enjoyed this fantasy romance. Solid world building and strong story. The romance has a strong start but the couple don't get together in this book. Both characters are well done with both strengths and insecurities. Neither is really a cliche. Stuff is going on and you have keep on to the next book.
January 24, 2020
The Flame and The Blade by Meredith Hart is a fantasy story that you easily become ensconced in. It is well written as were the characters. Meredith paints a vivid picture of her world and the characters within. With magic and thieves, mages and monsters, action and adventure the story is well rounded and enjoyable. I also liked that the Heroine was large and in charge and a take no prisoners attitude.
Lyria returns from a mission only to discover she has been betrayed and returns to the family business. She soon finds herself on what is supposed to be an easy guard, protect and retrieve mission but turns out to be anything but.
Vethe is sent to recover a document by his vicious aunt, one he doesn’t want to find. He is a citizen who has magical abilities with fire but trying to hide it from those who find it unlawful. The person sent to guard him turns out to be so much more and the travels are anything but safe and straightforward.
I look forward to seeing where the story goes.
Lyria returns from a mission only to discover she has been betrayed and returns to the family business. She soon finds herself on what is supposed to be an easy guard, protect and retrieve mission but turns out to be anything but.
Vethe is sent to recover a document by his vicious aunt, one he doesn’t want to find. He is a citizen who has magical abilities with fire but trying to hide it from those who find it unlawful. The person sent to guard him turns out to be so much more and the travels are anything but safe and straightforward.
I look forward to seeing where the story goes.
October 2, 2020
All the stars for Vethe!!!
February 10, 2020
This book starts off by following Vethe Scarvian, direct descendant of the man who almost destroyed humanity. Vethe seeks to separate himself from his family’s dubious legacy. As the black sheep of his family, he’s scraping together enough coins to help his sister with her extraordinary powers ending a life cycle as it did her mother in the past.
Upon finding out about a formal agreement of engagement and marriage hidden in the mysterious Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman has betrothed to him to escape the contract but first he must locate the contract.
Lyria Guardia let her family down three years ago and she vows to God it will never happen again. Lyria built her life around her man which led to betrayal even leaving her career in the Adventurer’s Guild. As a modern woman, I believe we can all relate to her being humiliated and heartbroken only to return to her family’s Guard Guild for which her family has run for hundreds of years. She’s desperate to prove herself to her family in her next assignment no matter what it is.
This is where Lyria and Vethe’s path cross. This book will keep you hooked with this action-packed fantasy story. Keeps you hooked through every chapter.
Upon finding out about a formal agreement of engagement and marriage hidden in the mysterious Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman has betrothed to him to escape the contract but first he must locate the contract.
Lyria Guardia let her family down three years ago and she vows to God it will never happen again. Lyria built her life around her man which led to betrayal even leaving her career in the Adventurer’s Guild. As a modern woman, I believe we can all relate to her being humiliated and heartbroken only to return to her family’s Guard Guild for which her family has run for hundreds of years. She’s desperate to prove herself to her family in her next assignment no matter what it is.
This is where Lyria and Vethe’s path cross. This book will keep you hooked with this action-packed fantasy story. Keeps you hooked through every chapter.
January 29, 2020
The Flame and The Blade (Flame and Blade Book 1) by Meredith Hart. I’m a person who truly has to be in the mood for a fantasy type story, it’s seldom that I am but the cover intrigued me so I hopped in. And I’ve got to say I’m rather glad I did. From page one I was on an adventure with the story world created by this author. The characters are complex and relatable and you can connect easily with them. It’s got everything I need for a great fantasy read from action and magic to romance and laughter. It’s well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking anything. The characters are well written and detailed nicely. Each character brings something unique to the storyline. I’m excited to see where the author takes readers next. I’m giving this story a four star review and highly recommend it.
January 24, 2020
The Flame and the Blade by Meredith Hart is the first in the series. This is my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed her book. Her descriptive writing helped me see the Demon Forest in my mind. Her characters are complex and fully developed. The relationship between Vethe and Lyria is beautiful. I can feel what the characters are going through and for me that makes a great story.There are twists and turns which kept me on the edge of my seat throught the entire story. What will happen to Vethe and Lyria when they enter the Demon Forest? I highly recommend this story.
January 22, 2020
A great start to a new series! I need more of Vethe's smartass comments and Lyria's quick thinking. This was a fun read that I will recommend to my friends. Can't wait for the next adventure.
September 10, 2022
One of the worst book covers I've ever seen, but if you can look past that, the contents don't match it. This is a really fun book starring a lady guard adventurer and a softboy wildmage who fight demons. It won't win awards, but I had a great time.
I wish more women in fantasy were depicted as tall and physically strong and more men depicted as lean and soft, like in this book. I'm short and physically a weakass myself, and it still gets old when all the women are teeny tiny like children being tossed around, especially when the men are meathead giants. This was a nice and very welcome change.
I wish more women in fantasy were depicted as tall and physically strong and more men depicted as lean and soft, like in this book. I'm short and physically a weakass myself, and it still gets old when all the women are teeny tiny like children being tossed around, especially when the men are meathead giants. This was a nice and very welcome change.
February 1, 2020
I usually demote books a star for swearwords and this has swearwords aplenty. But I can’t bring myself to demote it since I loved it so much! (Note to the author: why have swear words in it? They didn’t add anything to it. And the book would have read fine without them. It belittles the characters that we’re trying to use the crutch of swearwords to strengthen. Not to mention, modern swear words makes the book sound like it doesn’t belong in a medieval setting. Unless the goal is that you want your reviewers to complain about the swearwords.) Swearwords aside, the book is fantastic. I loved Lyria from the moment she had to deal with her cheating lover. And I loved that she didn’t feel the need to win him back. Granted, I am getting a bit tired of everyone having to show how strong a woman is by having her swing a sword. And the mage accompanying is almost always a fire mage. Both very cliché and overdone elements in modern indie fantasy books these days. But Vethe and Lyria… There is so much to say about the two of them character wise. I loved that Lyria had character history to her. And I loved that Vethe wasn’t your basic rich, high-born guy. He had fallen on hard times, he’s an “illegal” unregistered mage, he’s got family problems and his estate is practically a ruin, and because of his near-poverty and being illegal, he has self-confidence issues making relationships nearly impossible. Though the Pride & Prejudice theme has been done to death with two characters not communicating and making wrong stereotypical assumptions about each other (I wouldn’t call this “enemies-to-lovers” since that would imply that they started out as hating each other. Yes, there was frustration between the two and a lot of grumbling, but there was never any actual hate). It still works here. I kept waiting for certain things to come to light and they never did, but then that will just keep me waiting for things to come to light in the next book. I loved the romance between them (FYI, there is sex in this book). There was epic road trip adventure to be had in this book, as well as monsters, and sword fighting, humor, and plenty of magic. And I loved the donkey. (I really hope we get to see him again in the next book). Yes, this is book one in a series, and it ends on a cliffhanger with plenty of open threads waiting for continuation in the next book. But thankfully it does feel like an ending of this particular adventure and doesn’t feel like it cut off mid-scene. So, I am satisfied that it feels like a complete book and am definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
February 12, 2022
I didn’t expect to have so much fun with this book. I’m pretty new to the fantasy romance genre and, let’s be honest, there’s plenty of *really* bad books within it. The Flame and the Blade won me over with good pacing, a solid balance between worldbuilding, action and romance, and likeable characters I cared about.
Some stuff I liked in more detail:
- Great chemistry between the two protagonists. Usually I’m not a big fan of first-person perspective, but in books such as this it allows for a more intimate analysis of the characters’ feelings. Vethe and Lyria are not great at communication sometimes, misreading each other’s thoughts and intentions, and that’s where FPP proves useful.
- Vethe is my type of guy. Smart and snarky but not a jerk, self-deprecating, and using sarcasm as a shield. Kind and supportive towards Lyria, he never questions her competences. Doesn’t hurt that he cooks and makes great tea! As befits a fire mage, he tends to be rather short-tempered and overdramatic sometimes, but that’s exactly why I love fire wilders, can’t help it!
- Lyria breaks the mold of Strong Female Character TM. Sure, she’s fiesty and capable, but when we meet her she’s nursing a broken heart. Our warrior girl is not made of stone, and that’s fine. I admired her composure in nerve-racking situations where it would be so easy to panic and break down. She is a well-trained guard after all and goes straight into hyper-focus combat mode whenever needed, especially in the last quarter of the book.
- Humor! There’s quite a lot of it, mostly thanks to Vethe’s antiques and Lyria’s reactions. I smiled to myself a lot and snorted out loud quite a few times.
- Well-written, mostly non-cringy sex scenes. Be warned, though: they are very explicit.
- By the end of the book I was interested not only in what would become of Lyria and Vethe, but also the rest of the story. The first book is more of an introduction to the world, focusing more on the two protagonists.
Stuff I didn’t love:
- Vethe talks about his penis a bit too often for my taste, lol.
- The covers of all the books in the series are terrible. I erased them from my consciousness so as not to imagine Vethe the way he’s depicted there. In my head he looks more like one of those Targaryen dudes from GoT.
- Some of Vethe and Lyria’s observations get repetitive, and they gush about each other a bit too much.
- While Vethe and Lyria’s trek through the Demon Forest is fun and engaging in itself, we only get glimpses of the main intrigue, possible villains and their motivations etc. We get to see more of that in the next installments, but here it might be too little for some readers.
Some stuff I liked in more detail:
- Great chemistry between the two protagonists. Usually I’m not a big fan of first-person perspective, but in books such as this it allows for a more intimate analysis of the characters’ feelings. Vethe and Lyria are not great at communication sometimes, misreading each other’s thoughts and intentions, and that’s where FPP proves useful.
- Vethe is my type of guy. Smart and snarky but not a jerk, self-deprecating, and using sarcasm as a shield. Kind and supportive towards Lyria, he never questions her competences. Doesn’t hurt that he cooks and makes great tea! As befits a fire mage, he tends to be rather short-tempered and overdramatic sometimes, but that’s exactly why I love fire wilders, can’t help it!
- Lyria breaks the mold of Strong Female Character TM. Sure, she’s fiesty and capable, but when we meet her she’s nursing a broken heart. Our warrior girl is not made of stone, and that’s fine. I admired her composure in nerve-racking situations where it would be so easy to panic and break down. She is a well-trained guard after all and goes straight into hyper-focus combat mode whenever needed, especially in the last quarter of the book.
- Humor! There’s quite a lot of it, mostly thanks to Vethe’s antiques and Lyria’s reactions. I smiled to myself a lot and snorted out loud quite a few times.
- Well-written, mostly non-cringy sex scenes. Be warned, though: they are very explicit.
- By the end of the book I was interested not only in what would become of Lyria and Vethe, but also the rest of the story. The first book is more of an introduction to the world, focusing more on the two protagonists.
Stuff I didn’t love:
- Vethe talks about his penis a bit too often for my taste, lol.
- The covers of all the books in the series are terrible. I erased them from my consciousness so as not to imagine Vethe the way he’s depicted there. In my head he looks more like one of those Targaryen dudes from GoT.
- Some of Vethe and Lyria’s observations get repetitive, and they gush about each other a bit too much.
- While Vethe and Lyria’s trek through the Demon Forest is fun and engaging in itself, we only get glimpses of the main intrigue, possible villains and their motivations etc. We get to see more of that in the next installments, but here it might be too little for some readers.
July 14, 2020
Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun little read! It's definitely much more character-driven than plot-driven. To be honest, the plot is pretty bare bones - go to a place and retrieve a thing - but the character interaction made up for it. It's much more heavily tilted towards romance/erotica than fantasy, which I didn't realize at the time, but the romance was well-paced and believable. There are several very explicit sex scenes, so if that's not your thing, skip this, but if it is, you'll enjoy it. The writing isn't overly fancy, but still pleasing to read. I wish there was a little more worldbuilding - what we get is pretty slim - but I do like that there aren't huge infodumps or anything. The essential information is trickled out throughout the novel. I also liked that the characters didn't twiddle around or misunderstand each other simply for drama. There is a misunderstanding near the beginning, but it doesn't take too terribly long for it to be corrected. The characters are very solid - both badasses in their own right, but well-developed enough that they don't feel like cartoon characters. You definitely root for their relationship.
My only quibble is I want closure on what happened to their donkey. Theo. :(
Overall, this was a pretty solid fantasy romance, and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre looking for something spicy on a rainy day.
This was a fun little read! It's definitely much more character-driven than plot-driven. To be honest, the plot is pretty bare bones - go to a place and retrieve a thing - but the character interaction made up for it. It's much more heavily tilted towards romance/erotica than fantasy, which I didn't realize at the time, but the romance was well-paced and believable. There are several very explicit sex scenes, so if that's not your thing, skip this, but if it is, you'll enjoy it. The writing isn't overly fancy, but still pleasing to read. I wish there was a little more worldbuilding - what we get is pretty slim - but I do like that there aren't huge infodumps or anything. The essential information is trickled out throughout the novel. I also liked that the characters didn't twiddle around or misunderstand each other simply for drama. There is a misunderstanding near the beginning, but it doesn't take too terribly long for it to be corrected. The characters are very solid - both badasses in their own right, but well-developed enough that they don't feel like cartoon characters. You definitely root for their relationship.
My only quibble is I want closure on what happened to their donkey. Theo. :(
Overall, this was a pretty solid fantasy romance, and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre looking for something spicy on a rainy day.
February 8, 2020
The Flame and the Blade (Flame and Blade Series) by Meredith Hart
5 Stars
After reading this book, I realized that this will be an awesome series. I’m very excited to read the rest. Considering how the book ended, I can’t wait to get my hands on part two. This is a fantasy novel filled with magic and adventure, some danger and love.
After getting her heart broken, Lyria leaves the Adventurers Guild and returns to her family’s Guard Guild in shame. Luckily her brothers forget the I told you so and accept her back with open arms. Having to work her way up from the bottom again, Lyria accepts her first assignment. It should have been simple, escort a noble to the ruins of a castle and bring him back home. Unfortunately for her, said noble happens to be an illegal wild mage who is a direct descendant of the man who nearly destroyed the world during the Demon Wars. This ten day trek turned into fourteen days of gruelling conditions filled with life and death situations.
Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the characters and the storyline. The world that the author created was quite interesting with its guilds and magic system. Everything was so vivid and well written. This is an amazing start to a series, that I believe, will be off the charts.
5 Stars
After reading this book, I realized that this will be an awesome series. I’m very excited to read the rest. Considering how the book ended, I can’t wait to get my hands on part two. This is a fantasy novel filled with magic and adventure, some danger and love.
After getting her heart broken, Lyria leaves the Adventurers Guild and returns to her family’s Guard Guild in shame. Luckily her brothers forget the I told you so and accept her back with open arms. Having to work her way up from the bottom again, Lyria accepts her first assignment. It should have been simple, escort a noble to the ruins of a castle and bring him back home. Unfortunately for her, said noble happens to be an illegal wild mage who is a direct descendant of the man who nearly destroyed the world during the Demon Wars. This ten day trek turned into fourteen days of gruelling conditions filled with life and death situations.
Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the characters and the storyline. The world that the author created was quite interesting with its guilds and magic system. Everything was so vivid and well written. This is an amazing start to a series, that I believe, will be off the charts.
February 10, 2020
This is a great adventure story filled with twists and turns
Lyria ia a member of the Guards Guild who has been given her assignment to protect a noble man on his quest to find a lost contract from his dead ancestor. What she doesnt realise is that the noble man is actually wildmage who's magic is fire based.
Vethe comes from a noble background however his ancestor is the infamous Duskbringer who almost destroyed the world by opening up a portal and releasing demons into the world. This cause Duskbringer to be defeated and his home destroyed. Vethe enjoys his life of alcohol and women, killing and stealing to get by, however a call from his aunt changes everything. Vethe has a contract to marry a daughter of a very wealthy family and his aunty either wants him to marry her or for her family to pay a large amount of money to get her out of the contract.
The problem is the last known place of this contract is in the destroyed home of Duskbringer, so Vethe and his guard Lyria set out through the Demons Forest to find it.
Will they succeed or is the contract another story with no truth to it.
Lyria ia a member of the Guards Guild who has been given her assignment to protect a noble man on his quest to find a lost contract from his dead ancestor. What she doesnt realise is that the noble man is actually wildmage who's magic is fire based.
Vethe comes from a noble background however his ancestor is the infamous Duskbringer who almost destroyed the world by opening up a portal and releasing demons into the world. This cause Duskbringer to be defeated and his home destroyed. Vethe enjoys his life of alcohol and women, killing and stealing to get by, however a call from his aunt changes everything. Vethe has a contract to marry a daughter of a very wealthy family and his aunty either wants him to marry her or for her family to pay a large amount of money to get her out of the contract.
The problem is the last known place of this contract is in the destroyed home of Duskbringer, so Vethe and his guard Lyria set out through the Demons Forest to find it.
Will they succeed or is the contract another story with no truth to it.
February 9, 2020
The Flame And The Blade by Meredith Hart
4 Stars!!!!
Another great new find by yet another great new author. I just love finding new series and authors to read. This book was a breath of fresh air. I found that the author had a very unique world that she has created. The characters just jump off of the page and one feels as though they are in the thick of it with them.
Vethe and Lyria have two very contrasting characteristics but just really click together. I found the book to be perfectly balanced with just the right amount of drama and just the slightest undercurrent of romance beginning. I could feel the chemistry between these two and found that the author really was able to spin an addictive tale. I really like supernatural based stories and I like how the story unwinds and the author ends this one with the opening for the next. I really cannot wait to be able to continue Vethe and Lyria's adventure and see how all will unfold. I can sense that there is much more to this tale that needs to be spun and told and I for one cannot wait. I really highly recommend this author .
4 Stars!!!!
Another great new find by yet another great new author. I just love finding new series and authors to read. This book was a breath of fresh air. I found that the author had a very unique world that she has created. The characters just jump off of the page and one feels as though they are in the thick of it with them.
Vethe and Lyria have two very contrasting characteristics but just really click together. I found the book to be perfectly balanced with just the right amount of drama and just the slightest undercurrent of romance beginning. I could feel the chemistry between these two and found that the author really was able to spin an addictive tale. I really like supernatural based stories and I like how the story unwinds and the author ends this one with the opening for the next. I really cannot wait to be able to continue Vethe and Lyria's adventure and see how all will unfold. I can sense that there is much more to this tale that needs to be spun and told and I for one cannot wait. I really highly recommend this author .
February 1, 2020
This is the first book in Meredith Hart’s Flame and Blade series of romantic fantasy adventure with swords and sorcery and demons. Although this isn’t one of my preferred genres, I loved this book. It’s told from the dual perspective of Lyria, a fighter from an adventurer’s guild, and Vethe, a wildmage. These two get off to a rough start, but as they learn to rely on each other to survive a dangerous journey, a passionate romance develops.
I liked both of the main characters, thought they had great chemistry, and hope that they will eventually find a happy ending, but it doesn’t happen in this book. You will find heartbreak, laughter, romance, horror, suspense, and equines with attitude, all in one delightfully well-told story. I can’t wait for more!
Be aware that there are explicit scenes of sex and violence, as well as somewhat of a cliffhanger ending. While this book completes the main story arc, both characters are left in precarious positions, and plenty of plot threads remain to pick up in the next book.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading romantic fantasy series.
I liked both of the main characters, thought they had great chemistry, and hope that they will eventually find a happy ending, but it doesn’t happen in this book. You will find heartbreak, laughter, romance, horror, suspense, and equines with attitude, all in one delightfully well-told story. I can’t wait for more!
Be aware that there are explicit scenes of sex and violence, as well as somewhat of a cliffhanger ending. While this book completes the main story arc, both characters are left in precarious positions, and plenty of plot threads remain to pick up in the next book.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading romantic fantasy series.
February 8, 2020
4 Stars
The Flame and the Blade is the first book in the Flame and Blade series by Meredith Hart. It is a wonderful romantic fantasy- with plenty of action, adventure, magic, swords and sorcery, mages, paranormal elements, and fantastic world building.
Ms. Hart has a rich, detailed and descriptive style to her writing- which brought her world and all the characters to life. I was pulled into the story, experiencing all the action right alongside the characters. It was easy to get lost in the story (in a great way) and I didn’t want to leave until I had read every word.
Lyria and Verthe are so well developed, with their own individual personalities, quirks and flaws- the book definitely wouldn’t be the same without them.
This is a captivating start to a new series, and if this book is anything to go by- the rest of the series is set to be fantastic! Can’t wait to get my hands on the second book, “IN THE SHADOWS OF THE CITADEL”.
Well worth the read!
Thank you, Meredith Hart!
The Flame and the Blade is the first book in the Flame and Blade series by Meredith Hart. It is a wonderful romantic fantasy- with plenty of action, adventure, magic, swords and sorcery, mages, paranormal elements, and fantastic world building.
Ms. Hart has a rich, detailed and descriptive style to her writing- which brought her world and all the characters to life. I was pulled into the story, experiencing all the action right alongside the characters. It was easy to get lost in the story (in a great way) and I didn’t want to leave until I had read every word.
Lyria and Verthe are so well developed, with their own individual personalities, quirks and flaws- the book definitely wouldn’t be the same without them.
This is a captivating start to a new series, and if this book is anything to go by- the rest of the series is set to be fantastic! Can’t wait to get my hands on the second book, “IN THE SHADOWS OF THE CITADEL”.
Well worth the read!
Thank you, Meredith Hart!
February 10, 2020
The Flame and The Blade (Flame and Blade Series) by Meredith Hart. This is the story of Vethe Scarvian who is a direct descendant of the man who almost destroyed humanity. Vethe has no use for his family's once noble history. His only goal in life is to get his sister into Citadel. Lyria Guardia let her family down 3 years ago even though she is trained to lead missions to find and recover items. After the man she had built her life around was found by Lyria with someone else she is left heartbroken. She leaves the Adventurer's Guild and returns to the Guard's Guild that her family has run forever. The Guard's Guild is what leads Lyria to Vethe in search of a missing contract and all Lyria cares about is the contract but having to deal with Vethe might drive her insane. While working together their feelings change toward one another and they start to really care about each other. Will there relationship work out or will the chaos of everything be the end of them?
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