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What if erasing the past cost more than you were willing to pay?
Having narrowly escaped their enemies, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass continue their search for the elusive Silvertongue, the only one with knowledge of the Reliquary’s whereabouts. But time is running out for Sephone, and with Dorian accused of high treason, the quest takes on a new urgency.
As secrets from each of their pasts drive a wedge between them, Sephone invests all her hopes in finding her homeland, Lethe—where her family may yet be alive. But nothing about Lethe is as she expects, and disappointment, betrayal, and danger await her at every turn.
As the truth about the Reliquary’s curse comes to light, the fragile bonds between the unlikely companions are tested like never before. Meanwhile, Dorian faces a terrible choice: to save the life of one who is beginning to mean more to him than the past he’s so desperate to forget, or to save his beloved Caldera from dangers outside and within.
Having narrowly escaped their enemies, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass continue their search for the elusive Silvertongue, the only one with knowledge of the Reliquary’s whereabouts. But time is running out for Sephone, and with Dorian accused of high treason, the quest takes on a new urgency.
As secrets from each of their pasts drive a wedge between them, Sephone invests all her hopes in finding her homeland, Lethe—where her family may yet be alive. But nothing about Lethe is as she expects, and disappointment, betrayal, and danger await her at every turn.
As the truth about the Reliquary’s curse comes to light, the fragile bonds between the unlikely companions are tested like never before. Meanwhile, Dorian faces a terrible choice: to save the life of one who is beginning to mean more to him than the past he’s so desperate to forget, or to save his beloved Caldera from dangers outside and within.
334 pages, Hardcover
Published December 5, 2023
8 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Fischer
13 books287 followersJasmine’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals she painstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five, to rather limited acclaim. Thankfully, her writing (but not her drawing) has improved since then. She is a clinically-trained psychologist but no, she cannot read your mind. When she isn’t killing defenseless house plants, Jasmine enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, eating peanut butter out of the jar, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours’ north of Sydney, Australia, where they live to satisfy the every whim of their ginger overlord cat, Simba.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
March 13, 2025
4.5⭐️ [Reread update—5⭐️!!]
Loved the addition of Christian elements in this installment. I wondered in the first book if I was getting glimpses of this, but the story needed to build up to it in Lumen before they could be presented well.
Love these books! The next one comes out tomorrow, and I can’t wait for it to drop on my Kindle!🤩
[Reread update—The depth of spiritual and emotional elements combined with the beautiful writing and incredible characters make this trilogy one of absolute favorites.🥹]
Loved the addition of Christian elements in this installment. I wondered in the first book if I was getting glimpses of this, but the story needed to build up to it in Lumen before they could be presented well.
Love these books! The next one comes out tomorrow, and I can’t wait for it to drop on my Kindle!🤩
[Reread update—The depth of spiritual and emotional elements combined with the beautiful writing and incredible characters make this trilogy one of absolute favorites.🥹]
September 11, 2023
Hey friends!
I can't wait for you to read this next instalment in The Nightingale Trilogy...my fave of the trio. It ups the stakes, the danger, the romance...and you get to know more about Sephone, Dorian, and Cass. Don't tell Cass this book is named after him, or it'll go to his head. He's vain enough already.
Jasmine xo
I can't wait for you to read this next instalment in The Nightingale Trilogy...my fave of the trio. It ups the stakes, the danger, the romance...and you get to know more about Sephone, Dorian, and Cass. Don't tell Cass this book is named after him, or it'll go to his head. He's vain enough already.
Jasmine xo
September 4, 2025
No. How is this happening?!?!
reread review:
Review is for the whole trilogy.
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Rating: 5 stars
Do I recommend it? Yes!!
This is my second time reading this trilogy. I decided to review this trilogy as one because I can’t separate it in my head. It’s all one story to me.
The Nightingale Trilogy is a tension filled tale. I love the story but I’m also always ready for the ending. These books just leave you feeling so hungry for wholeness. For the hope that Christ offers.
Book 1 doesn’t have many Christian elements, nor does book 2. But both leave you with such a longing for hope. In book 3 a lot more of the Christian elements come in.
This trilogy shows the darkness in such a way that the light is even more visible. We see the strong contrast between extreme hopelessness and hope.
Oh. And the betrayal. Oh the betrayal. There is some seriously painful betrayal that happens in this book. Heartbreaking some of it. Why, Fischer, why? 😭💔
The world building with the altars is pretty neat. Getting to see the negatives behind their powers and watching those things be redeemed is beautiful. I really like the way Fischer built this world. And also, the whole idea of how this world is like post-apocalyptic or something is pretty neat to me. I don’t read dystopian so I’m sure this is a common theme in those types of books. But to me it was something new.
I love these characters so much. Sephone is such a broken but beautiful hope filled young lady. And Dorian is just running from his past so much that he’s blind to the present. (Blind and stupid. Come on, Dorian.)
And Cass, dear sweet broken goofy Cass. He’s just searching for something. And he’s searching in the wrong places. He’s so hungry for the hole within him to be filled. I’m just now starting Caligo and I can’t wait to see where Fischer takes his story.
And then we have the three bodyguards, Bear, Bas, and Jewel. Does she count as a bodyguard?? Or just a friend? They’re written so well and they feel so real. I love how Fischer has written all of her characters.
These characters are all real to me in a sense. They’re so well written. It does feel more plot driven since it has a strong plot that is determining what happens but the characters are also very deep. One reason I often prefer character driven to plot driven is because the characters in plot driven stories tend to be weaker and more shallow and the characters often make or break a story for me.
I cannot recommend this series enough.
Content:
Language- 0/5
Violence- 1/5 *
Sexual- 0/5 **
*Some gory descriptions of wounds and war violence but it didn’t really bother me.
**No sexual content, but there was romantic tension.
These books were clean. Thank you for reading this review and thank you, J. J. Fischer, for writing such a wonderful story for us!
reread review:
Review is for the whole trilogy.
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Rating: 5 stars
Do I recommend it? Yes!!
This is my second time reading this trilogy. I decided to review this trilogy as one because I can’t separate it in my head. It’s all one story to me.
The Nightingale Trilogy is a tension filled tale. I love the story but I’m also always ready for the ending. These books just leave you feeling so hungry for wholeness. For the hope that Christ offers.
Book 1 doesn’t have many Christian elements, nor does book 2. But both leave you with such a longing for hope. In book 3 a lot more of the Christian elements come in.
This trilogy shows the darkness in such a way that the light is even more visible. We see the strong contrast between extreme hopelessness and hope.
Oh. And the betrayal. Oh the betrayal. There is some seriously painful betrayal that happens in this book. Heartbreaking some of it. Why, Fischer, why? 😭💔
The world building with the altars is pretty neat. Getting to see the negatives behind their powers and watching those things be redeemed is beautiful. I really like the way Fischer built this world. And also, the whole idea of how this world is like post-apocalyptic or something is pretty neat to me. I don’t read dystopian so I’m sure this is a common theme in those types of books. But to me it was something new.
I love these characters so much. Sephone is such a broken but beautiful hope filled young lady. And Dorian is just running from his past so much that he’s blind to the present. (Blind and stupid. Come on, Dorian.)
And Cass, dear sweet broken goofy Cass. He’s just searching for something. And he’s searching in the wrong places. He’s so hungry for the hole within him to be filled. I’m just now starting Caligo and I can’t wait to see where Fischer takes his story.
And then we have the three bodyguards, Bear, Bas, and Jewel. Does she count as a bodyguard?? Or just a friend? They’re written so well and they feel so real. I love how Fischer has written all of her characters.
These characters are all real to me in a sense. They’re so well written. It does feel more plot driven since it has a strong plot that is determining what happens but the characters are also very deep. One reason I often prefer character driven to plot driven is because the characters in plot driven stories tend to be weaker and more shallow and the characters often make or break a story for me.
I cannot recommend this series enough.
Content:
Language- 0/5
Violence- 1/5 *
Sexual- 0/5 **
*Some gory descriptions of wounds and war violence but it didn’t really bother me.
**No sexual content, but there was romantic tension.
These books were clean. Thank you for reading this review and thank you, J. J. Fischer, for writing such a wonderful story for us!
January 25, 2024
I really loved getting to know all the characters, especially Cass, on a deeper level. It was cool to see new gifts from new characters, and the Christian elements/allegory finally made an appearance! There is a bit of a love triangle, and I don't love the direction it's headed personally, but we shall see. The cliffhanger though! Be warned.
July 2, 2025
Let’s just start this off by saying…I absolutely, completely, 100% adore Cassius. He’s so sweet, attentive, protective, kind, strong, swoony, funny, selfless, just plain awesome. Yes he does have flaws, and makes mistakes, but I love him more for that. It shows a real character with real struggles and problems while also striving to be better.
He’s great and I love him so much. Once again, I think practically everything I annotated in the book revolved around him 🤭
Man if I was Seph!! It would not be a hard choice for me 😅
I mean, Dorian is fine I suppose. But I just like him less and less as the story progresses and he gets more selfish and honestly just plain annoying. Though he does have his moments and he got better towards the end of the book, and I think part of my dislike is just the fact I can see him and Seph ending up together when I would prefer it to be Cass she chooses.
*sigh…its really fine…
The plot was a bit slower in this one, but still had me intrigued and invested throughout the whole book, especially towards the end. And a new character has caught my eye. I want to know his story, and I’m hoping for redemption. He has the potential to be really great.
All this to say, I really loved it, and I can’t wait (but I’m also nervous) to start the next one. Part of me wants to slow down and take my time so I don’t finish this series so quickly, but the other part of me just has to KNOW. And therefore I’ll probably be binging the next two immediately, or as my life allows lol
He’s great and I love him so much. Once again, I think practically everything I annotated in the book revolved around him 🤭
Man if I was Seph!! It would not be a hard choice for me 😅
I mean, Dorian is fine I suppose. But I just like him less and less as the story progresses and he gets more selfish and honestly just plain annoying. Though he does have his moments and he got better towards the end of the book, and I think part of my dislike is just the fact I can see him and Seph ending up together when I would prefer it to be Cass she chooses.
*sigh…its really fine…
The plot was a bit slower in this one, but still had me intrigued and invested throughout the whole book, especially towards the end. And a new character has caught my eye. I want to know his story, and I’m hoping for redemption. He has the potential to be really great.
All this to say, I really loved it, and I can’t wait (but I’m also nervous) to start the next one. Part of me wants to slow down and take my time so I don’t finish this series so quickly, but the other part of me just has to KNOW. And therefore I’ll probably be binging the next two immediately, or as my life allows lol
December 18, 2024
3.5 stars!
March 26, 2024
5 Stars ✨
Clean Fantasy
"How you respond to your heartache will chart the very course of your life."
What a FANTASTIC sequel to Calor!! We get more information, new foes, more characters and high stakes content. The world has expanded, still on the quest for the relic- we traveled far in this installment and I enjoyed every minute of it.
From the start of the book we are thrown right into action and continue on this emotional and spiritual journey of finding purpose and peace. I think the author did a fantastic job incorporating faith into this fantasy world. It’s not heavy but woven effortlessly. I feel it’s also relatable as we see the hearts of the characters and their internal struggles. It will definitely pull on your heart strings.
I gotta say, while I enjoyed Calor- Lumen takes the cake. It kept me captivated from beginning to end and has me begging for the last book in the trilogy. Highly Recommend!!
Clean Fantasy
"How you respond to your heartache will chart the very course of your life."
What a FANTASTIC sequel to Calor!! We get more information, new foes, more characters and high stakes content. The world has expanded, still on the quest for the relic- we traveled far in this installment and I enjoyed every minute of it.
From the start of the book we are thrown right into action and continue on this emotional and spiritual journey of finding purpose and peace. I think the author did a fantastic job incorporating faith into this fantasy world. It’s not heavy but woven effortlessly. I feel it’s also relatable as we see the hearts of the characters and their internal struggles. It will definitely pull on your heart strings.
I gotta say, while I enjoyed Calor- Lumen takes the cake. It kept me captivated from beginning to end and has me begging for the last book in the trilogy. Highly Recommend!!
October 10, 2025
Actually rating 4.5 stars
This second volume is way better then the first one!
I loved this volume because it contained well fleshed Christian themes, Cass' past is uncovered and he is penned as a more complex character then in the first volume, the love triangle was a shock, well in the back of my mind I kind detected it but I was still shocked when it was revealed, good twists and that cliffhanger was the cherry on top!
Cannot wait to read the last volume in this trilogy!
This second volume is way better then the first one!
I loved this volume because it contained well fleshed Christian themes, Cass' past is uncovered and he is penned as a more complex character then in the first volume, the love triangle was a shock, well in the back of my mind I kind detected it but I was still shocked when it was revealed, good twists and that cliffhanger was the cherry on top!
Cannot wait to read the last volume in this trilogy!
March 9, 2024
This story took the characters in a number of surprising places, and I don't know where their journeys will lead them in the final book and I'm 100% here for that! This was a very fun romp and I adore the complications of all the characters relationships in this book. Very much anticipating the final installment in this trilogy!
October 10, 2023
This book hooked me from the first high-stakes scene to the heart-pounding climax. It's packed full of all the best things I loved about book one, and MORE. This is well worth the read, and will have you up late into the night!
June 11, 2025
Lumen is the second installment in the Nightingale trilogy, and it picks up right where Calor left off. The pace is fast and the tensions are high from the very first page. The cast is still wonderful, and I’m enjoying getting to know them more deeply. Fischer does a wonderful job balancing their strengths against their weaknesses. She also does a lovely job of weaving subtle strands of Greek myth into her world in a way that only serves to deepen the story. There are subtle nods throughout, especially seen in the naming of places and even certain characters.
In this installment we are introduced to a fascinating new group of people—the Mysterium. These people, who live such beautiful lives mostly insulated from the larger world around them, brought to mind the early Church. It’s through them and our cast’s journey into their world in search of the Reliquary that we see the faith element of the series begin to become more central. This became even more true as we neared the halfway point of the book and were taken to the Garden, which is gorgeous, reminiscent of the Garden-that-was but not yet the perfected Garden-that-will-be. It is a powerful portrayal of Eden.
This is also where we’re introduced to the concept of the Three, the Trinity as presented in this series. We even get to spend time with the Son figure of the Three when He visits Sephone in a dream. I was profoundly moved by both that conversation and the portrayal of the Garden and the Mysterium. So much so that I actually read chapters 18 and 19 multiple times before moving on, both to soak up the loveliness and to ensure that I didn’t miss anything. There is so much spiritual depth here, reminding me of the works of fiction that have moved me the most profoundly, like Narnia or Ted Dekker’s Circle series.
I’m loving this series, and will be immediately continuing onto Memoria, the final installment in the trilogy, as Lumen follows Calor’s lead and ends on a cliffhanger. I have no idea what’s going to happen as the story reaches its zenith, but I do have faith that it will be an ending that shines light into the dark world of the story’s setting as well as into our own. Fischer has created something really special here, and I’m so grateful that I have a chance to explore it.
“Pain is everywhere… It is at the very heart of this world. It was woven into its fibers since the beginning, when the natural order of things was first undone, only to unravel more and more with every subsequent tug on the pattern. It is what you do with that pain—who you turn to and what you turn away from—that matters. How you respond to your heartache will chart the very course of your life.”
In this installment we are introduced to a fascinating new group of people—the Mysterium. These people, who live such beautiful lives mostly insulated from the larger world around them, brought to mind the early Church. It’s through them and our cast’s journey into their world in search of the Reliquary that we see the faith element of the series begin to become more central. This became even more true as we neared the halfway point of the book and were taken to the Garden, which is gorgeous, reminiscent of the Garden-that-was but not yet the perfected Garden-that-will-be. It is a powerful portrayal of Eden.
This is also where we’re introduced to the concept of the Three, the Trinity as presented in this series. We even get to spend time with the Son figure of the Three when He visits Sephone in a dream. I was profoundly moved by both that conversation and the portrayal of the Garden and the Mysterium. So much so that I actually read chapters 18 and 19 multiple times before moving on, both to soak up the loveliness and to ensure that I didn’t miss anything. There is so much spiritual depth here, reminding me of the works of fiction that have moved me the most profoundly, like Narnia or Ted Dekker’s Circle series.
I’m loving this series, and will be immediately continuing onto Memoria, the final installment in the trilogy, as Lumen follows Calor’s lead and ends on a cliffhanger. I have no idea what’s going to happen as the story reaches its zenith, but I do have faith that it will be an ending that shines light into the dark world of the story’s setting as well as into our own. Fischer has created something really special here, and I’m so grateful that I have a chance to explore it.
June 20, 2024
I enjoyed this a lot more than book one! I loved how the Reliquary was actually found in this book, rather than pushing it off to book three. I will say, though, that I didn't think Cass was any more important in this book than he was in book one, so I'm confused by why it's titled Lumen. If anything, he seemed less important than in book one. But that's just a little quibble. I also loved the Christian allegory starting to come through, and the side characters introduced here were wonderful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2024
Lumen ~ Book Review 💚🐺✨
Oh yes, this series has earned a special place in my bibliophile heart with this one!
I absolutely loved everything about this book and felt even more connected to the characters than I did in Calor. I feel like Calor did an excellent job and introducing our these lovable characters, yet Lumen really had these characters become even more real and lovable to me. Not only is there wonderful worldbuilding, and character development, and a fascinating magic system, but there is even allegory in this one which made my enjoyment of the story heighten and significantly!
I love how this series is completely unique and stands on its own! I have truly not read anything in the sphere of fantasy quite like this series and I love that about it! 🤩
Oh yes, this series has earned a special place in my bibliophile heart with this one!
I absolutely loved everything about this book and felt even more connected to the characters than I did in Calor. I feel like Calor did an excellent job and introducing our these lovable characters, yet Lumen really had these characters become even more real and lovable to me. Not only is there wonderful worldbuilding, and character development, and a fascinating magic system, but there is even allegory in this one which made my enjoyment of the story heighten and significantly!
I love how this series is completely unique and stands on its own! I have truly not read anything in the sphere of fantasy quite like this series and I love that about it! 🤩
March 14, 2025
"𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚...𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙪𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣—𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢—𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚."
Where do I even begin? 🤯
Lumen picks up right where Calor left off, with absolutely no pause for breath! The climax is building up more and more, I'm still not sure where it's all leading to! 😅
Sephone and Dorian are still at odds with their relationship, and I'm very curious where that will lead. There's so many obstacles in both their lives, it'll definitely be moments to never forget. 🩷
There's just so much in J.J Fischer's books, it's about impossible to put it all into words, and also to leave spoilers out. These books will shock you with the beautiful allegories and faith orchestrating throughout the story, and some of the best characters and friendships. 🩷
This type of book is not one I'd normally read - due to the fantasy elements, and it's not one I'll probably look for again, but the beautiful faith-filled aspects to it really made me glad I gave it a try, and I do highly recommend it. 🩷
Where do I even begin? 🤯
Lumen picks up right where Calor left off, with absolutely no pause for breath! The climax is building up more and more, I'm still not sure where it's all leading to! 😅
Sephone and Dorian are still at odds with their relationship, and I'm very curious where that will lead. There's so many obstacles in both their lives, it'll definitely be moments to never forget. 🩷
There's just so much in J.J Fischer's books, it's about impossible to put it all into words, and also to leave spoilers out. These books will shock you with the beautiful allegories and faith orchestrating throughout the story, and some of the best characters and friendships. 🩷
This type of book is not one I'd normally read - due to the fantasy elements, and it's not one I'll probably look for again, but the beautiful faith-filled aspects to it really made me glad I gave it a try, and I do highly recommend it. 🩷
November 14, 2024
If you loved Calor, Lumen ramps up all the good things. I’m excited for Memoria’s release!
Here’s my review for Calor: No-spice romance. Rich world building. Fascinating magic system. Characters that feel real. Drama. I blew through the audiobooks for Calor and Lumen, and I'm excited for Memoria’s release!
Here’s my review for Calor: No-spice romance. Rich world building. Fascinating magic system. Characters that feel real. Drama. I blew through the audiobooks for Calor and Lumen, and I'm excited for Memoria’s release!
December 11, 2024
ahsldhgalsjdlgajsdlgajhslgkjahwlkeghalkwehglkahal *hurries to obtain Memoria*
August 1, 2024
A simply beautiful book. The characters are so beautifully written, their personalities, inner turmoil, their past and how it's made them who they are now. It all adds together and makes them so real.
The world is intriguing, the plot is engaging. But the characters are fantastic. I'm extremely excited for the final book.
The world is intriguing, the plot is engaging. But the characters are fantastic. I'm extremely excited for the final book.
October 26, 2024
It is entirely possible that I’m a little sleepy while writing this because I stayed up until 1am last night to finish this book. Yep, definitely possible. :)
I’m loving this story so much! Our main characters, Sephone, Dorian, Cass, and Jewel (yes, Lady Jewel absolutely counts as a main character, wolf or not.) have become so special to me. I just adore their dynamic together. A little sassy, a little serious, sometimes rubbing each other the wrong way, but ultimately taking care of each other and being willing to die for each other, even when they aren’t getting along. And also, pretty sure I said this in my review of the first book, but Jewel deserves all the pats and treats. (I don’t usually skip to the end of books, but I did here because I had to make sure Jewel is okay, LOL. She’s fine, guys, she’s fine.)
This book is titled Lumen, and we did learn a lot more about our lumen, Cass. Ouch, poor guy. The story does an excellent job of showing why he carries so much pain. I was a little afraid he might do something bad in this book (no details because that would be spoilery) but thankfully he didn’t do that. I was also glad to see him making a conscious effort to improve his behavior for Sephone’s sake.
Speaking of, this is one of the few books with a love triangle that I can actually tolerate. I think the reason I’m okay with it is because the “right” choice for our heroine isn’t blatantly obvious, like in certain movies I’ve seen. *cough* Hallmark*cough* None of our three characters are perfect, but none of them are terrible, either. Dorian, Cass, and even Sephone have their flaws and strengths. Their moments of insight and their blind spots. Sephone is the sweet, supportive type who cares about everyone. She gently encourages those around her to be better and earn her respect, and I enjoy the dynamic at play as we see both Cass and Dorian respond to that challenge. Sometimes they’re better at it than others, and that’s part of the complexity of the story.
But more than that, I’ve enjoyed the greater adventure they’re on. Dorian thought that the Reliquary would solve all his problems, but now that he’s found it, he’s got even more problems. There were also new characters introduced, and I loved some of them, like Spartan (he is a good, sweet boy) and hated others, but in the way that I’m supposed to hate them because they’re terrible people. XD (Not me, yelling at the book for our trio not to trust a certain person.) AND WHAT’S UP WITH THAT “UNEXPECTED ENEMY” PERSON??? Oh my goodness, I went nuts trying to figure out who that is, and I still am! Even when we learn more about him it’s still not enough and I have no idea what on earth his motives are, but I’m sure I’m going to find out in book 3!
We also got some very interesting allegorical elements starting to come into play in this book. Enclave is a Christian publisher and their authors are Christians, but some of their books have overt spiritual elements and some don’t, while others are allowed to take their time in developing spiritual elements without having to frontload them. This series is of the latter type. There were no obvious Christian elements in book 1 but now we’re starting to see them and I love them. I also don’t want to spoil them, but you can check the “Spiritual” section of my content advisory if you want to know. Either way, I think I know where at least one story thread is heading in book three and I’m really excited to see how it plays out.
Now, I will give a heads up that this book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. (Part of the reason I stayed up until 1am finishing it!!!) So you might want to have book 3 ready to go when you start this one! I’m so happy that I joined the authors street team and got and ARC copy of Memoria, so I’m going to start it tonight because I can’t wait!
I gave book 1 four stars simply because I didn’t know where the series was going, but I honestly loved this second book so much and have a better grasp of the author’s intention so that I feel like it truly deserves the full five stars. I have high hopes that book 3 will live up to this as well!
Content Advisory:
I believe this series is part of Enclave Publishing’s Young Adult line. While it is plenty appropriate for Christian teens and adults, there are some instances of violence, as well as some frightening creature descriptions that probably keep it from being the best choice for kids under 12 who are reading up.
Language:
There are a couple of mentions of a character using “a few choice words” that are implied to be profanity, but nothing is written out.
Romance/Sexual
As stated in the main review, there is a love triangle going on with Seph being in love with Dorian and Cass being in love with Seph. There are a couple instances of romantically touching hands, one kiss on the cheek, and one kiss on the lips that is described more in emotional terms than physical. Cass flirts with Sephone throughout the book, especially when Dorian is around, but this is limited to telling her she’s beautiful and the like. He never says anything inappropriate to her.
We are reminded again that Cass numbs the pain of his past with alcohol and women. There are no descriptions of his dalliances, we only know that they happen because Sephone sees him flirting with women in pubs and leaving with them. On the occasions she enters his mind with her powers, it’s also implied that she sees some of his blush worthy memories of these women, but they aren’t described to the reader. Later in the story Cass decides he doesn’t want to behave this way anymore because even being willing to have the memories of other women permanently removed from his mind, if possible.
Cass shares that the big reason he has no contact with his brother anymore is because his brother is a horrible jerk who impregnated (not described in any way, only stated as a fact) the woman Cass was interested in just because he wanted to hurt Cass.
Someone else states that his birth occurred because his father kidnapped and impregnated an alter woman (again, not described in any way, only stated as a fact) in order to have a child who was an alter in the hopes of being able to use that child’s powers as a weapon.
Violence:
The bad guys in this story are EVIL and they do and threaten some terrible things. There are many, many threats of violence, and quite a few incidents of actual violence. People, the animal forms of some shape-shifting people, and occasionally actual animals (mostly just “Nightmare” wolves, but Jewel the good wolf gets knocked around a little too), get punched, stabbed, burned, and bitten, and once, a bone gets broken (sound and pain described.) Typically, the description of this violence is kept non-gory and quick with brief statements of fact like “this person slashed/stabbed that person” or “this person pummeled that person with their fists.” Less frequently, something will get described a bit more, though still not in extreme detail:
The description of the death of someone villainous is a little yucky as our main characters witness his slow death from a stab wound to the stomach. The wound isn’t described, but there’s mention of blood on the hand covering it and on his lips.
The story opens on a dream sequence where Sephone is having a nightmare of her friends getting killed in an attack (Cass burned with flame and Dorian stabbed in the back), but the descriptions are minimal.
A villain orders a guard killed in front of someone and there’s mention of a glimpse of red but nothing more.
It’s stated briefly that Doran shatters an attacker’s skull with his fighting staff, but there’s no other description.
An attack on a city is rather violent. There are nightmare wolves and shapeshifters involved who have some pretty creepy descriptions as well as alters with various abilities that can sound a little creepy (though they’re described less than the monstrous animals) such as one with telekinetic powers who twists some people around in the air before dropping them. Fireballs set homes and buildings on fire and Dorian spots people with burns, though the burns aren’t described. There’s mention of blood on Jewel the wolf’s muzzle as she battles nightmare wolves, and blood on a shapeshifting alter who got stabbed in the side while in an animal form. People get killed with blades, but this is described without blood or only very brief mentions of blood.
The Reliquary (a fantastical device with fantastical uses) which Dorian has been seeking since book 1 to permanently erase certain painful memories from his mind is revealed to have a curse on it if it gets used. The reality of this curse *kind of* falls under the violence category, but it’s also a MASSIVE SPOILER so I’m putting it in spoiler code: See the Spiritual section for how the Reliquary also might play into an allegorical component in book 3.
Spiritual/Magic:
Book 1 didn’t have obvious Christian faith elements, however, about halfway through this book we start to pick up on an allegorical element. In seeking the legendary “Reliquary” that Dorian wants to use to rid himself permanently of painful memories, the main characters travel to a location that is described like a dim reflection of the Garden of Eden (this name isn’t used, but it is stated that the people of the old world believed humanity first came into existence in a garden, though the details of this have mostly been forgotten by the average person. There’s also mention of a new and better garden to come in the future.) In this location, our main characters also learn of “The Three”. We don’t get a lot of details about The Three yet but Dorian himself says they sound like the “old gods”. To this reader, it sounds like this might be hinting at the Trinity.
Sephone later has a dream where one of members of The Three introduces himself to her and the hints of biblical references and biblical imagery imply that he is a Christ figure. Connected to this, it is stated that while the Reliquary will one of the two people who use it, a third person can step in and voluntarily give themselves in place of the person who will otherwise I suspect because of this there will be an even stronger allegorical element in book 3.
As stated in my review for book one, this is a post-apocalyptic world where some people are called "alters" or "gifted" which means they were born with some kind of special power. Here, we learn some alters can shapeshift into animals as well.
Drug/Alcohol:
Consumption of alcohol and drugs or drug-like substances are all shown to have consequences. Cass is, again, implied to be drunk multiple times but for Sephone’s sake he starts to try to sober up.
Dorian gets very drunk at one point as well, encouraged to do so by someone with suspicious motives who wanted to loosen his tongue, and he makes a terrible mistake because of it.
A chloroform-like drug knocks Sephone unconscious and renders her powers useless.
Just like in book 1 we see people (not our main characters, but people around them) use drinkable “distilled memories” almost like drugs to numb out the pains of life instead of dealing with them. One group of young men is even seen drinking a potion that makes them forget themselves briefly so that when they follow up by drinking a potion with someone else’s memory, the experience is more intense.
I’m loving this story so much! Our main characters, Sephone, Dorian, Cass, and Jewel (yes, Lady Jewel absolutely counts as a main character, wolf or not.) have become so special to me. I just adore their dynamic together. A little sassy, a little serious, sometimes rubbing each other the wrong way, but ultimately taking care of each other and being willing to die for each other, even when they aren’t getting along. And also, pretty sure I said this in my review of the first book, but Jewel deserves all the pats and treats. (I don’t usually skip to the end of books, but I did here because I had to make sure Jewel is okay, LOL. She’s fine, guys, she’s fine.)
This book is titled Lumen, and we did learn a lot more about our lumen, Cass. Ouch, poor guy. The story does an excellent job of showing why he carries so much pain. I was a little afraid he might do something bad in this book (no details because that would be spoilery) but thankfully he didn’t do that. I was also glad to see him making a conscious effort to improve his behavior for Sephone’s sake.
Speaking of, this is one of the few books with a love triangle that I can actually tolerate. I think the reason I’m okay with it is because the “right” choice for our heroine isn’t blatantly obvious, like in certain movies I’ve seen. *cough* Hallmark*cough* None of our three characters are perfect, but none of them are terrible, either. Dorian, Cass, and even Sephone have their flaws and strengths. Their moments of insight and their blind spots. Sephone is the sweet, supportive type who cares about everyone. She gently encourages those around her to be better and earn her respect, and I enjoy the dynamic at play as we see both Cass and Dorian respond to that challenge. Sometimes they’re better at it than others, and that’s part of the complexity of the story.
But more than that, I’ve enjoyed the greater adventure they’re on. Dorian thought that the Reliquary would solve all his problems, but now that he’s found it, he’s got even more problems. There were also new characters introduced, and I loved some of them, like Spartan (he is a good, sweet boy) and hated others, but in the way that I’m supposed to hate them because they’re terrible people. XD (Not me, yelling at the book for our trio not to trust a certain person.) AND WHAT’S UP WITH THAT “UNEXPECTED ENEMY” PERSON??? Oh my goodness, I went nuts trying to figure out who that is, and I still am! Even when we learn more about him it’s still not enough and I have no idea what on earth his motives are, but I’m sure I’m going to find out in book 3!
We also got some very interesting allegorical elements starting to come into play in this book. Enclave is a Christian publisher and their authors are Christians, but some of their books have overt spiritual elements and some don’t, while others are allowed to take their time in developing spiritual elements without having to frontload them. This series is of the latter type. There were no obvious Christian elements in book 1 but now we’re starting to see them and I love them. I also don’t want to spoil them, but you can check the “Spiritual” section of my content advisory if you want to know. Either way, I think I know where at least one story thread is heading in book three and I’m really excited to see how it plays out.
Now, I will give a heads up that this book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. (Part of the reason I stayed up until 1am finishing it!!!) So you might want to have book 3 ready to go when you start this one! I’m so happy that I joined the authors street team and got and ARC copy of Memoria, so I’m going to start it tonight because I can’t wait!
I gave book 1 four stars simply because I didn’t know where the series was going, but I honestly loved this second book so much and have a better grasp of the author’s intention so that I feel like it truly deserves the full five stars. I have high hopes that book 3 will live up to this as well!
Content Advisory:
I believe this series is part of Enclave Publishing’s Young Adult line. While it is plenty appropriate for Christian teens and adults, there are some instances of violence, as well as some frightening creature descriptions that probably keep it from being the best choice for kids under 12 who are reading up.
Language:
There are a couple of mentions of a character using “a few choice words” that are implied to be profanity, but nothing is written out.
Romance/Sexual
As stated in the main review, there is a love triangle going on with Seph being in love with Dorian and Cass being in love with Seph. There are a couple instances of romantically touching hands, one kiss on the cheek, and one kiss on the lips that is described more in emotional terms than physical. Cass flirts with Sephone throughout the book, especially when Dorian is around, but this is limited to telling her she’s beautiful and the like. He never says anything inappropriate to her.
We are reminded again that Cass numbs the pain of his past with alcohol and women. There are no descriptions of his dalliances, we only know that they happen because Sephone sees him flirting with women in pubs and leaving with them. On the occasions she enters his mind with her powers, it’s also implied that she sees some of his blush worthy memories of these women, but they aren’t described to the reader. Later in the story Cass decides he doesn’t want to behave this way anymore because even being willing to have the memories of other women permanently removed from his mind, if possible.
Cass shares that the big reason he has no contact with his brother anymore is because his brother is a horrible jerk who impregnated (not described in any way, only stated as a fact) the woman Cass was interested in just because he wanted to hurt Cass.
Someone else states that his birth occurred because his father kidnapped and impregnated an alter woman (again, not described in any way, only stated as a fact) in order to have a child who was an alter in the hopes of being able to use that child’s powers as a weapon.
Violence:
The bad guys in this story are EVIL and they do and threaten some terrible things. There are many, many threats of violence, and quite a few incidents of actual violence. People, the animal forms of some shape-shifting people, and occasionally actual animals (mostly just “Nightmare” wolves, but Jewel the good wolf gets knocked around a little too), get punched, stabbed, burned, and bitten, and once, a bone gets broken (sound and pain described.) Typically, the description of this violence is kept non-gory and quick with brief statements of fact like “this person slashed/stabbed that person” or “this person pummeled that person with their fists.” Less frequently, something will get described a bit more, though still not in extreme detail:
The description of the death of someone villainous is a little yucky as our main characters witness his slow death from a stab wound to the stomach. The wound isn’t described, but there’s mention of blood on the hand covering it and on his lips.
The story opens on a dream sequence where Sephone is having a nightmare of her friends getting killed in an attack (Cass burned with flame and Dorian stabbed in the back), but the descriptions are minimal.
A villain orders a guard killed in front of someone and there’s mention of a glimpse of red but nothing more.
It’s stated briefly that Doran shatters an attacker’s skull with his fighting staff, but there’s no other description.
An attack on a city is rather violent. There are nightmare wolves and shapeshifters involved who have some pretty creepy descriptions as well as alters with various abilities that can sound a little creepy (though they’re described less than the monstrous animals) such as one with telekinetic powers who twists some people around in the air before dropping them. Fireballs set homes and buildings on fire and Dorian spots people with burns, though the burns aren’t described. There’s mention of blood on Jewel the wolf’s muzzle as she battles nightmare wolves, and blood on a shapeshifting alter who got stabbed in the side while in an animal form. People get killed with blades, but this is described without blood or only very brief mentions of blood.
The Reliquary (a fantastical device with fantastical uses) which Dorian has been seeking since book 1 to permanently erase certain painful memories from his mind is revealed to have a curse on it if it gets used. The reality of this curse *kind of* falls under the violence category, but it’s also a MASSIVE SPOILER so I’m putting it in spoiler code: See the Spiritual section for how the Reliquary also might play into an allegorical component in book 3.
Spiritual/Magic:
Book 1 didn’t have obvious Christian faith elements, however, about halfway through this book we start to pick up on an allegorical element. In seeking the legendary “Reliquary” that Dorian wants to use to rid himself permanently of painful memories, the main characters travel to a location that is described like a dim reflection of the Garden of Eden (this name isn’t used, but it is stated that the people of the old world believed humanity first came into existence in a garden, though the details of this have mostly been forgotten by the average person. There’s also mention of a new and better garden to come in the future.) In this location, our main characters also learn of “The Three”. We don’t get a lot of details about The Three yet but Dorian himself says they sound like the “old gods”. To this reader, it sounds like this might be hinting at the Trinity.
Sephone later has a dream where one of members of The Three introduces himself to her and the hints of biblical references and biblical imagery imply that he is a Christ figure. Connected to this, it is stated that while the Reliquary will one of the two people who use it, a third person can step in and voluntarily give themselves in place of the person who will otherwise I suspect because of this there will be an even stronger allegorical element in book 3.
As stated in my review for book one, this is a post-apocalyptic world where some people are called "alters" or "gifted" which means they were born with some kind of special power. Here, we learn some alters can shapeshift into animals as well.
Drug/Alcohol:
Consumption of alcohol and drugs or drug-like substances are all shown to have consequences. Cass is, again, implied to be drunk multiple times but for Sephone’s sake he starts to try to sober up.
Dorian gets very drunk at one point as well, encouraged to do so by someone with suspicious motives who wanted to loosen his tongue, and he makes a terrible mistake because of it.
A chloroform-like drug knocks Sephone unconscious and renders her powers useless.
Just like in book 1 we see people (not our main characters, but people around them) use drinkable “distilled memories” almost like drugs to numb out the pains of life instead of dealing with them. One group of young men is even seen drinking a potion that makes them forget themselves briefly so that when they follow up by drinking a potion with someone else’s memory, the experience is more intense.
September 18, 2024
Oh boy. That ending. If you don’t like cliffhangers… make sure you have the next book bought and ready to go (I’m writing this before the release of the third book—weep for me 😭)
I really like this book, and think it is better than the first because it gets the advantage of building on top of what the first book set up. I love the flow of Jasmine’s writing, it’s enjoyable and draws you into the ending.
My one minor complaint is, that the world though explained, still feels brushed over, leaving me with many questions, and vague feelings. I have a suspicion at least some of that will be resolved within the third book. I like having a nice mental map and feeling for the world, its people and its past, but what I was fed did not satisfy the hunger.
In the end, it was worth the read, and I look forward to the third and final book!! The drama it was ended on… 😭 I will have to suffer for another three months *aHhhHhhhhHhh*
(Oh, and here’s to hoping Cass mans up and doesn’t return to his old ways, I want to like him… there is potential for a really happy ending, and I hope we get it 🤞)
I really like this book, and think it is better than the first because it gets the advantage of building on top of what the first book set up. I love the flow of Jasmine’s writing, it’s enjoyable and draws you into the ending.
My one minor complaint is, that the world though explained, still feels brushed over, leaving me with many questions, and vague feelings. I have a suspicion at least some of that will be resolved within the third book. I like having a nice mental map and feeling for the world, its people and its past, but what I was fed did not satisfy the hunger.
In the end, it was worth the read, and I look forward to the third and final book!! The drama it was ended on… 😭 I will have to suffer for another three months *aHhhHhhhhHhh*
(Oh, and here’s to hoping Cass mans up and doesn’t return to his old ways, I want to like him… there is potential for a really happy ending, and I hope we get it 🤞)
March 20, 2024
I desperately need the third book 🥺
September 25, 2023
It is 2am (Paris time) as I write, and I have just finished my eARC copy of Lumen. All I can say, is that this is what books, and stories. and characters SHOULD be.
I will edit my review later when I have more time to process and articulate how wonderful this sequel was, and lament how long I will have to wait to the final installment—seeing as the second book has not even officially released.
But for now, if you are wondering whether you should go binge read Calor (Book One) so that you can suffer from anticipation until Lumen releases, the answer is yes, a thousand times, yes.
_________________________________________________
*This is an honest and unbiased review and I quite frankly still don't know how I was lucky enough to make it onto J.J. Fischer's street team.
I will edit my review later when I have more time to process and articulate how wonderful this sequel was, and lament how long I will have to wait to the final installment—seeing as the second book has not even officially released.
But for now, if you are wondering whether you should go binge read Calor (Book One) so that you can suffer from anticipation until Lumen releases, the answer is yes, a thousand times, yes.
_________________________________________________
*This is an honest and unbiased review and I quite frankly still don't know how I was lucky enough to make it onto J.J. Fischer's street team.
November 25, 2025
Another amazing read!! This one was very action packed. I really loved getting to learn more about each character’s background. Some learned to trust more and others discovered the untruthful. I felt that Sephone matured even more in this book but I loved how she still clung to hope. It’s really neat to me to observe how both Sephone and Dorian and Cass have sorrow in their pasts but they each choose to battle it in different ways. On to Memoria!!
November 29, 2023
4.85/5 for me on this one. I'm not good with love triangles haha. A really great read though and I love where the story is going, though it's like watching a train wreck. I could shake Sephone and Damon haha. Ends on a major cliffhanger so stay tuned for book 3
November 25, 2023
Wow. This is quite possibly the best book I've read in all of 2023. I know that's a strong statement, but I haven't felt so sad to have finished a book in a very long time. I keep gazing longingly at my Kindle, wishing there was more I could read right now. I'm not ready to start another book and enter a different world, I just want to stay in this one. I keep seeing glimpses of the world from The Nightingale Trilogy in my mind's eye. I was SO present in this story. Honestly, I will be among the first anxiously waiting for the final book in the Trilogy. There were some deep spiritual truths that came out in this book, too, and I hope to update this later with some of my favorite quotes. Until then, I will wistfully dream of the frigid world in Caldera and the beautiful, broken souls that Fischer has introduced to us.
I was grateful to receive an ARC copy of this book, and this review is my own, honest opinion.
I was grateful to receive an ARC copy of this book, and this review is my own, honest opinion.
November 28, 2023
This book was even better than the first! If it wasn’t for my desperate need for sleep, I would’ve stayed up all night to finish it. While Book 1 helps you get to know each person and the basics of their gifts, Book 2 dives so much deeper. You get to see a lot of the past and how it has shaped how they all think. The love and companionship between them all grows only stronger. But, as always, we have been left wanting more. I am already dying to know what happens in Book 3! I can say with 100% confidence that this book is incredible, and that you DO NOT want to skip over this amazing series!!
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(I received an early ebook copy from the author in exchange for my honest review)
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(I received an early ebook copy from the author in exchange for my honest review)
March 22, 2025
Oh man! I love the green in this cover!
I also really love how we dove a little deeper into the Persephone story. I'm seeing more and more threads, but each are still so unique to this world and these characters. Fischer continues with her brilliant contrasts and expands her world and characters in ways that feel natural, as if they'd been that way all along and we're only just now exploring them for ourselves.
Cass's magic really intrigued me in this one. Yes, Sephone is growing stronger and Dorian has a unique combination of magic and perspective, but Cass's secondary power makes me think he's going to play a much larger part than perhaps it seems at first. That power is strong and lays the foundation for a powerful reading experience. I'm not sure where we're going with it, but I am absolutely curious. It was also fun to learn more about his backstory. I'm excited to see where he ends up!
Aside from our beloved cast in the first book, we had a few returning and new characters that amped up the tension. I won't name all the names for fear of spoiling, but I will say that I'm intrigued by Spartan. He was a mysterious addition and I have a feeling he'll be twisted in even more deeply in the next book - at least, I hope so! We also have a new enemy to contend with that I have high hopes for.
I loved that we went underground for a portion of this story. Again, it feels like the Persephone vibes are compounding. Also, I think I identified at least 3 different characters who embodied some version of Hades's role in the original tale, which was so cool.
The plot threads in this one just get more and more tangled. The tension is higher with the stakes and the relationships. Between the quest for the Reliquary (and all it's entangled implications, curse, and the people who guard it), the politics of the thanes (the threat of war between the countries, the complicated expansion of the danger to all of Caldera, and allll of the tangled web of Draven's plans), Sephone's growing sickness and quest to find her family (oh, that delicious turn of events! Again, the contrast is SO good!), and other little surprise threads along the way, this story is packed. It kept me turning proverbial pages (I listened to the audio this go round).
We also introduced a new element that feels like it's heading toward an allegorical end. I'm reserving thoughts til we get to said end, but I will admit I'm intrigued and curious to see where it goes.
This is a tangled web and the characters had some interesting back and forth that make me cling to the hope of the payoff in the end, but nervous all the same. A great follow up and I can't wait to read the next one!
Content: no swearing, fantasy violence, and sweet, clean romance (with some unsavory implications here and there). But themes of darkness, villainy, power-hungry people, grief and great loss, and the wrestling between choosing good when all you see is evil in the world. Probably recommended for 14+
I also really love how we dove a little deeper into the Persephone story. I'm seeing more and more threads, but each are still so unique to this world and these characters. Fischer continues with her brilliant contrasts and expands her world and characters in ways that feel natural, as if they'd been that way all along and we're only just now exploring them for ourselves.
Cass's magic really intrigued me in this one. Yes, Sephone is growing stronger and Dorian has a unique combination of magic and perspective, but Cass's secondary power makes me think he's going to play a much larger part than perhaps it seems at first. That power is strong and lays the foundation for a powerful reading experience. I'm not sure where we're going with it, but I am absolutely curious. It was also fun to learn more about his backstory. I'm excited to see where he ends up!
Aside from our beloved cast in the first book, we had a few returning and new characters that amped up the tension. I won't name all the names for fear of spoiling, but I will say that I'm intrigued by Spartan. He was a mysterious addition and I have a feeling he'll be twisted in even more deeply in the next book - at least, I hope so! We also have a new enemy to contend with that I have high hopes for.
I loved that we went underground for a portion of this story. Again, it feels like the Persephone vibes are compounding. Also, I think I identified at least 3 different characters who embodied some version of Hades's role in the original tale, which was so cool.
The plot threads in this one just get more and more tangled. The tension is higher with the stakes and the relationships. Between the quest for the Reliquary (and all it's entangled implications, curse, and the people who guard it), the politics of the thanes (the threat of war between the countries, the complicated expansion of the danger to all of Caldera, and allll of the tangled web of Draven's plans), Sephone's growing sickness and quest to find her family (oh, that delicious turn of events! Again, the contrast is SO good!), and other little surprise threads along the way, this story is packed. It kept me turning proverbial pages (I listened to the audio this go round).
We also introduced a new element that feels like it's heading toward an allegorical end. I'm reserving thoughts til we get to said end, but I will admit I'm intrigued and curious to see where it goes.
This is a tangled web and the characters had some interesting back and forth that make me cling to the hope of the payoff in the end, but nervous all the same. A great follow up and I can't wait to read the next one!
Content: no swearing, fantasy violence, and sweet, clean romance (with some unsavory implications here and there). But themes of darkness, villainy, power-hungry people, grief and great loss, and the wrestling between choosing good when all you see is evil in the world. Probably recommended for 14+
December 31, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the second book to the Nightingale Trilogy by J.J. Fischer. I love how she has expanded the world taking us to new places and giving us more action and suspense. The stakes are higher with learning more about the characters and an introduction to a new character (that is very intriguing). The characters continue to grow where we see their strengths and weaknesses. The slow burn romance continues to build, and I was thoroughly invested in the characters and their decisions. We read of the characters imperfections but yet it is all so relatable! The spiritual themes woven throughout the book is beautifully portrayed as well as quite powerful. I read this book in a few days and already bitter that I have to wait another year. This is a solid second book, and I cannot wait to finish the series. This is a must read. Highly recommend!
I received and early advanced copy from the publisher, but this review is my own.
I received and early advanced copy from the publisher, but this review is my own.
December 11, 2023
“How you respond to your heartache will chart the very course of your life.”
If you thought Calor, the first book in the series, was action-packed, intense, and full of surprises, Lumen will take you on a journey more treacherous, complex, and heart-pounding than you could imagine. I loved the growth in the three major characters Sephone, Dorian, and Cass. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the tangled web of feelings among them, I sympathized with their confusion and emotions. Cass still doesn’t have a direct voice in the story, but we get to know him pretty well by the end of this book. Sephone perseveres as the loyal, sacrificial powerhouse willing to do whatever it takes to help Dorian and bring down the evil king. Dorian vacillates between selfish pursuits and noble sacrifice for most of the book, which makes him more human and relatable.
I loved the new secondary characters and their depth. I also loved that discussions of spiritual nature and faith appeared here, which I hope the author will expound upon in the next book. And there is a first person narration from “an unexpected foe”! I’m dying to know who this foe is.
Crafted with skill, energy and fascinating imagination, Lumen will dazzle you as the author brings you deeper into this incredible post-apocalyptic world. You should read the series in order since Lumen picks up from where Calor left off.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
If you thought Calor, the first book in the series, was action-packed, intense, and full of surprises, Lumen will take you on a journey more treacherous, complex, and heart-pounding than you could imagine. I loved the growth in the three major characters Sephone, Dorian, and Cass. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the tangled web of feelings among them, I sympathized with their confusion and emotions. Cass still doesn’t have a direct voice in the story, but we get to know him pretty well by the end of this book. Sephone perseveres as the loyal, sacrificial powerhouse willing to do whatever it takes to help Dorian and bring down the evil king. Dorian vacillates between selfish pursuits and noble sacrifice for most of the book, which makes him more human and relatable.
I loved the new secondary characters and their depth. I also loved that discussions of spiritual nature and faith appeared here, which I hope the author will expound upon in the next book. And there is a first person narration from “an unexpected foe”! I’m dying to know who this foe is.
Crafted with skill, energy and fascinating imagination, Lumen will dazzle you as the author brings you deeper into this incredible post-apocalyptic world. You should read the series in order since Lumen picks up from where Calor left off.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
December 23, 2023
I need book three now.
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