What do you think?
Rate this book
The Incandescent Kingdoms #5
Enchanted at Fireblaze: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
She wants a place in Fireblaze Kingdom. He is a king in search of a queen. If the two fall in love, they will lose all that they built on their own. Can they sacrifice their hard-earned success for each other? Despite her tendency to fall asleep at the most inconvenient times, Lucia has worked day and night to grow her thriving floral business in the capital of Fireblaze Kingdom. When she accidentally falls asleep on the handsome King Zayn, who has come to propose to the princess of the kingdom, Lucia finds herself in big trouble. Princess Yesenia warns Lucia to stay away from Zayn, but the two can’t seem to avoid each other. Besides getting in royal trouble, Lucia knows that falling in love with Zayn means leaving behind her family, business, and home. Is she willing to give all of that up for him? Zayn is the king of the newest Incandescent Kingdom, Topaz Dusk. With a mysterious and haunted past, a throne to keep, and a bride to find, Zayn’s hands are full. But not too full that he can’t catch a pretty maiden who falls asleep on the roadside. He was told to follow tradition and marry a royal from another kingdom, or he’ll lose more than just the throne. Will he marry Princess Yesenia, or lose everything for the woman he loves? “Enchanted at Fireblaze” is a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” and is the fifth book in the Incandescent Kingdoms series. Each book can be read in order or as a standalone. With tropes like rags to riches, forbidden love, and “he falls first,” this novel is a clean and swoony romance, perfect for young adult and adult readers!
- GenresFairy Tale Retellings
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 3, 2023
"Enchanted at Fireblaze: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling" is the fifth book in the Incandescent Kingdoms series by Leialoha Humpherys. While I had previously read the prequel novella, "Kidnapped at Dusk," this full novel marks my first foray into the Incandescent Kingdoms series, and I found it to be a captivating and well-contained story that can be enjoyed as a standalone.
The romantic aspect of the story unfolds rather quickly, with declarations of love happening early on. Initially, this was a point of contention for me, as I often prefer slower-burn romances that tend to create a deeper and more realistic connection between characters. However, upon reflection, I came to understand that the swift progression of the romance is essential to the plot. This story revolves around the idea of fighting for one another, where the characters face numerous challenges that keep them apart. It's more about fighting for the one you know you're meant to be with, rather than a gradual process of getting to know and falling in love with someone by the end of the book. This approach, combined with Zayn's belief, instilled by his mother, that he'd know when he met "the one" with the concept of love at first sight, aligns perfectly with the fairytale narrative. While some may argue against the idea of love at first sight, in a fairytale, it feels like a fitting place for such a notion to exist.
The story revolves around Lucia, a hardworking owner of a thriving floral business in Fireblaze Kingdom, and King Zayn, the ruler of Topaz Dusk. Lucia's unique enchantment of falling asleep at inconvenient moments becomes a key plot element, leading to a chance encounter with Zayn, who is supposed to propose to Princess Yesenia. As their paths cross, their attraction grows, despite the complexities of royal obligations, personal sacrifices, and conflicting loyalties.
One of the standout aspects of this book is Lucia's character development. She is portrayed as a resilient and determined heroine who faces numerous obstacles and injustices. Her journey of self-discovery and the realisation that it's acceptable to take a moment for herself and acknowledge her emotions is both heartwarming and relatable. Zayn, the king of Topaz Dusk, is a refreshingly honest character who does not shy away from his feelings, making him a strong counterpart to Lucia.
Lucia's family, despite their imperfections, adds depth to the story. Their support and love for each other are portrayed realistically and provide a refreshing familial dynamic. Another intriguing character is Princess Yesenia, who leaves room for further exploration in the series, especially considering the rather abrupt ending of her subplot with seemingly no repercussions for the kingdom severing a marriage contract. It would be interesting to see if this affects relations between the kingdoms down the line .
Humpherys does a commendable job with world-building, particularly in bringing the vibrant and perilous Fireblaze Kingdom to life. The jungle setting and the adventure it brings to Lucia and Zayn's tale are noteworthy. I also appreciated the uniqueness of the 'sleeping' element in the Sleeping Beauty story and the mystery surrounding it.
"Enchanted at Fireblaze" offers a delightful fairy tale retelling with a refreshing take on the classic story. The characters' honesty about their feelings and their determination to overcome obstacles make the romance shine. The enchanting kingdom settings add depth to the narrative, and Lucia's personal growth is a key highlight. While some plot elements could be further explored, the book delivers a charming and engaging story that fans of fairy tale retellings will enjoy.
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
October 22, 2023
A completely different take on Sleeping Beauty.
I ended up reading Filia and the Fall Festival before this book and when they mentioned how Topaz Dusk was the latest incandescent kingdom and the king had married a commoner from Fireblaze, my interest was instantly piqued and I've been waiting to hear their story ever since. And it certainly didn't disappoint.
I usually don't like to name favourites but I think Enchanted at Fireblaze has to be my favourite book in this series, mainly because I relate to Lucia the most out of all the heroines so far. Mainly because her main characteristic is to just get on with things. No matter how many times she falls and thinks she's reached the bottom, something else comes along and makes her realise, no there is still further to fall. But each time, she picks herself up dusts herself off and keeps driving forward even when the amount of unfairness she faces might break someone else. And it takes Zayn to finally make her realise it's ok to stop and and take a breath - it's ok to not be ok. I love the journey she goes on in this book and realising surviving and living are not necessarily the same things and that ultimately, whilst she fights so hard for others and what she thinks she wants, it's ok to fight for what truly makes you enjoy life and want to live.
I love how Zayn was always honest about his feelings and what he wanted. He was honest about his attraction to Lucia even though it may've been easier to bury it. He is driven just like Lucia and has been through just as many downs but he finds it easier than her to fight for what he wants and what will make him happy. He does struggle with the actions of others, even though he always does what he can to achieve peace and love, he gradually learns that no matter how many times you try to forgive and reach out, you can't control how other people act, you can only let go of those toxic relationships to allow other, healthier ones to grow.
I loved that in this story there were never any problems regarding the feelings between the two, they never buried their feelings, believing that they shouldn't love each other, but instead focused on the physical barriers and hurdles between them and fighting to reach their happy ending.
I also loved Lucia's family. Yes they weren't perfect but they were all so loving, supportive and close on a level that we haven't seen in any heroine's family in any of the previous books.
The only real link to the original Sleeping Beauty tale was that when Lucia pricked herself, she fell asleep. Given the problematic points of the original story (namely consent) I'm glad Leialoha was able to make a clear sleeping beauty retelling with a much healthier relationship where the hero and heroine truly fight for each other.
It was interesting to see Princess Yesenia in this book. She believes nothing is going to stand in her way and as such we see her at her worst. However, when we see her in Filia's book, she has become more desperate and shows a lot more vulnerabilities. We get to understand her a bit better and learn more of her story. I am hoping that one day she will get her own book and be able to get her own happy ending.
I ended up reading Filia and the Fall Festival before this book and when they mentioned how Topaz Dusk was the latest incandescent kingdom and the king had married a commoner from Fireblaze, my interest was instantly piqued and I've been waiting to hear their story ever since. And it certainly didn't disappoint.
I usually don't like to name favourites but I think Enchanted at Fireblaze has to be my favourite book in this series, mainly because I relate to Lucia the most out of all the heroines so far. Mainly because her main characteristic is to just get on with things. No matter how many times she falls and thinks she's reached the bottom, something else comes along and makes her realise, no there is still further to fall. But each time, she picks herself up dusts herself off and keeps driving forward even when the amount of unfairness she faces might break someone else. And it takes Zayn to finally make her realise it's ok to stop and and take a breath - it's ok to not be ok. I love the journey she goes on in this book and realising surviving and living are not necessarily the same things and that ultimately, whilst she fights so hard for others and what she thinks she wants, it's ok to fight for what truly makes you enjoy life and want to live.
I love how Zayn was always honest about his feelings and what he wanted. He was honest about his attraction to Lucia even though it may've been easier to bury it. He is driven just like Lucia and has been through just as many downs but he finds it easier than her to fight for what he wants and what will make him happy. He does struggle with the actions of others, even though he always does what he can to achieve peace and love, he gradually learns that no matter how many times you try to forgive and reach out, you can't control how other people act, you can only let go of those toxic relationships to allow other, healthier ones to grow.
I loved that in this story there were never any problems regarding the feelings between the two, they never buried their feelings, believing that they shouldn't love each other, but instead focused on the physical barriers and hurdles between them and fighting to reach their happy ending.
I also loved Lucia's family. Yes they weren't perfect but they were all so loving, supportive and close on a level that we haven't seen in any heroine's family in any of the previous books.
The only real link to the original Sleeping Beauty tale was that when Lucia pricked herself, she fell asleep. Given the problematic points of the original story (namely consent) I'm glad Leialoha was able to make a clear sleeping beauty retelling with a much healthier relationship where the hero and heroine truly fight for each other.
It was interesting to see Princess Yesenia in this book. She believes nothing is going to stand in her way and as such we see her at her worst. However, when we see her in Filia's book, she has become more desperate and shows a lot more vulnerabilities. We get to understand her a bit better and learn more of her story. I am hoping that one day she will get her own book and be able to get her own happy ending.
October 25, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Lucia & Zayn’s points of view
– there is some fantasy violence & death
Review:
I was highly interested in how this Sleeping Beauty story was going to play out! I loved how the ‘sleeping’ of Sleeping Beauty was made to happen in this story (and that we didn’t get the complete answers as to how her sleeping spells worked right away). I enjoyed Lucia’s bird friend and how it was much smarter than I expected (not just parroting things back that it’d heard). I loved the whole jungle vibe of the Fireblaze kingdom and the adventure it brought to Lucia & Zayn’s story. I also loved the bit of Topaz Dusk that we got to see and I kind of hope that we might come back to it for someone else’s story! I adored Lucia’s tenacity and her kind heart so much! She was such a beautiful character inside and out. I loved getting to know more about Zayn in this book and that he had the hard choice of keeping his kingdom or the love he found. I enjoyed his friendship with his cousin/guard and that he took what was said under advisement (unless it was to stay away from Lucia). I am so excited for the next book in the series!
Summary:
Lucia has a tendency to randomly fall asleep at inopportune moments which is not only annoying, but also worrying to her family when she disappears for hours on end. But her latest sleeping spell really takes the cake. Not only did someone witness it, but she also happened to fall asleep on the worst person possible: King Zayn from the new kingdom of Topaz Dusk. Though attractive, this causes Lucia more trouble than she wants right now. Princess Yesenia (the princess of Lucia’s home kingdom of Fireblaze) already hates Lucia for the past, but now that Lucia has been seen in King Zayn’s presence more than she should, the princess will be more harsh towards her. Everyone in Fireblaze knows that King Zayn is in Fireblaze to court and propose to Princess Yesenia. But with each conversation and glance that King Zayn throws Lucia’s way, she doesn’t think the king knows it.
Zayn only recently was given his kingdom of Topaz Dusk and was instructed to marry royalty to secure his throne. But after searching for the perfect princess for him, Zayn finds that his heart is stolen by a peasant instead of a royal. Lucia is kind and caring to those around her, no matter their status and it draws Zayn closer to her when he should be expressing interest in Princess Yesenia. Zayn knows he needs to step up for the betterment of his kingdom, but what about the obligation he has to his heart?
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Lucia & Zayn’s points of view
– there is some fantasy violence & death
Review:
I was highly interested in how this Sleeping Beauty story was going to play out! I loved how the ‘sleeping’ of Sleeping Beauty was made to happen in this story (and that we didn’t get the complete answers as to how her sleeping spells worked right away). I enjoyed Lucia’s bird friend and how it was much smarter than I expected (not just parroting things back that it’d heard). I loved the whole jungle vibe of the Fireblaze kingdom and the adventure it brought to Lucia & Zayn’s story. I also loved the bit of Topaz Dusk that we got to see and I kind of hope that we might come back to it for someone else’s story! I adored Lucia’s tenacity and her kind heart so much! She was such a beautiful character inside and out. I loved getting to know more about Zayn in this book and that he had the hard choice of keeping his kingdom or the love he found. I enjoyed his friendship with his cousin/guard and that he took what was said under advisement (unless it was to stay away from Lucia). I am so excited for the next book in the series!
Summary:
Lucia has a tendency to randomly fall asleep at inopportune moments which is not only annoying, but also worrying to her family when she disappears for hours on end. But her latest sleeping spell really takes the cake. Not only did someone witness it, but she also happened to fall asleep on the worst person possible: King Zayn from the new kingdom of Topaz Dusk. Though attractive, this causes Lucia more trouble than she wants right now. Princess Yesenia (the princess of Lucia’s home kingdom of Fireblaze) already hates Lucia for the past, but now that Lucia has been seen in King Zayn’s presence more than she should, the princess will be more harsh towards her. Everyone in Fireblaze knows that King Zayn is in Fireblaze to court and propose to Princess Yesenia. But with each conversation and glance that King Zayn throws Lucia’s way, she doesn’t think the king knows it.
Zayn only recently was given his kingdom of Topaz Dusk and was instructed to marry royalty to secure his throne. But after searching for the perfect princess for him, Zayn finds that his heart is stolen by a peasant instead of a royal. Lucia is kind and caring to those around her, no matter their status and it draws Zayn closer to her when he should be expressing interest in Princess Yesenia. Zayn knows he needs to step up for the betterment of his kingdom, but what about the obligation he has to his heart?
October 9, 2025
I love this series but unfortunately this book was just okay.
There were a lot of inconsistencies in the characters/plot.
Zayn was a strong character from the last book.
I just cannot believe he left his kingdom for all of the time of the last book and this book knowing his brother was possibly wreaking havoc.
He just looked very naive in this book and that’s not at all how I saw him in the last book.
At times it looked like he shouldn’t be King at all because of how his kingdom was left.
Also they have no army but they’ve been fighting bandits?
I loved Lucia but it was really hard to get a read on her or her family because she loved them so much but they really weren’t great.
The back and forth with the story of her supporting her family just wasn’t cohesive.
She moved to the city alone at 12 and her little flower business brought then brought the family to the city.
But wait Dad is such a good carpenter he’s working on the palace and they have this big huge home?
But then they lose it all and no one wants to work oh but wait they do but kinda but she makes the most money selling flowers?
Wait what?
I had “emotional whiplash” which I know this author loves to use that term! It was like wait do we love the family or do we hate the family?
I really feel like the whole twin brother thing came out of left field and really wasn’t needed.
There really was no closure with Yesenia or her father and I know there’s more in a later book but I feel like sticking with them and maybe showing some kind of change or growth would have helped bring more closure to this story.
Just leave out the brother.
Also why not bring Lavender and or Morrigan in to help. Morrigan had studied so much and for so long I feel like it was a missed opportunity to not have her come help with Lucia’s enchantment.
Hopefully the next book is better!
There were a lot of inconsistencies in the characters/plot.
Zayn was a strong character from the last book.
I just cannot believe he left his kingdom for all of the time of the last book and this book knowing his brother was possibly wreaking havoc.
He just looked very naive in this book and that’s not at all how I saw him in the last book.
At times it looked like he shouldn’t be King at all because of how his kingdom was left.
Also they have no army but they’ve been fighting bandits?
I loved Lucia but it was really hard to get a read on her or her family because she loved them so much but they really weren’t great.
The back and forth with the story of her supporting her family just wasn’t cohesive.
She moved to the city alone at 12 and her little flower business brought then brought the family to the city.
But wait Dad is such a good carpenter he’s working on the palace and they have this big huge home?
But then they lose it all and no one wants to work oh but wait they do but kinda but she makes the most money selling flowers?
Wait what?
I had “emotional whiplash” which I know this author loves to use that term! It was like wait do we love the family or do we hate the family?
I really feel like the whole twin brother thing came out of left field and really wasn’t needed.
There really was no closure with Yesenia or her father and I know there’s more in a later book but I feel like sticking with them and maybe showing some kind of change or growth would have helped bring more closure to this story.
Just leave out the brother.
Also why not bring Lavender and or Morrigan in to help. Morrigan had studied so much and for so long I feel like it was a missed opportunity to not have her come help with Lucia’s enchantment.
Hopefully the next book is better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
I'm in the mood for cute and cozy stories. Once in a while I need something more mind-blowing, but mostly I just want a slightly predictable story based on a fairytale where two people fall in love and have to overcome challenges before they get their happily ever after. So, when I discovered Leialoha Humpherys and got the chance to sign up for her arc team I did so right away. And last week we received this book and this week I finally had the time to read it.
What I loved most about this book is the setting. This kingdom is amazing! I loved the rainforest and the dangers in it. And despite the fact that it's a fairytale retelling and not an epic fantasy novel the author did a lovely job with the world building. This kingdom really got its own culture, its own customs, its own kind of people and way of living. I almost wished our heroes had gotten in some more trouble so we could have seen more of it.
I also really loved the hero in this story. He's constantly choosing his heart and love over everything else. He's not made to play political games. And in a way I therefore totally understand why he'd be an amazing ruler. He'd rule with kindness and with heart. He would look at the people in front of him and would try to give them what they need. But also not more than that, because he also knows that people are capable of a lot themselves.
And that brings me to the story of the heroine. She's working so hard, she's doing so much for so many people around her, she's giving so much. I like how she has to learn that it's not her responsibility that others are happy. Especially not if she's forgetting her own wants and needs in the process. And watching her learn and grow, watching her slowly realizing that she does deserve to be happy too, was wonderful!
What I loved most about this book is the setting. This kingdom is amazing! I loved the rainforest and the dangers in it. And despite the fact that it's a fairytale retelling and not an epic fantasy novel the author did a lovely job with the world building. This kingdom really got its own culture, its own customs, its own kind of people and way of living. I almost wished our heroes had gotten in some more trouble so we could have seen more of it.
I also really loved the hero in this story. He's constantly choosing his heart and love over everything else. He's not made to play political games. And in a way I therefore totally understand why he'd be an amazing ruler. He'd rule with kindness and with heart. He would look at the people in front of him and would try to give them what they need. But also not more than that, because he also knows that people are capable of a lot themselves.
And that brings me to the story of the heroine. She's working so hard, she's doing so much for so many people around her, she's giving so much. I like how she has to learn that it's not her responsibility that others are happy. Especially not if she's forgetting her own wants and needs in the process. And watching her learn and grow, watching her slowly realizing that she does deserve to be happy too, was wonderful!
December 8, 2023
Enchanted at Fireblaze is an interesting retelling of sleeping beauty . While it is part of a series, it could be read as a stand-alone with minimal confusion or plot ruining.
Humphreys is a fantastic world builder. She is great at describing the characters and their worlds. She makes to so easy to picture the settings and story. Even her secondary characters are easy to picture.
There are only three things I would’ve changed with this story. Or, things I wish had been handled differently as a reader.
1- Yesenia kind of just…fades out of the story. What happened? What’s with her noggin? Is she going to be picked up in another book?
2- I struggled with the chains of shame. Not sure why, I liked the idea of the enchantment, but I struggled with them.
3- insta-love is just not the trope for me. Zayne and Lucia profess their love for one another very early, so that isn’t a spoiler. They were thrust into each other’s arms so quickly, it made it difficult for me to believe. There wasn’t really any tension or build in the basic romance angle. I felt detached from this aspect of their story. While there was a lot of development in the characters, this just isn’t the trope for me.
Overall, this is a colorful and vivid retelling of a story Disney made sure we all knew a little about. I love the cultural aspects and the obvious family and support system emphasis. It is a sweet, clean story that is easy to read.
While the insta love isn’t my thing, I enjoy Humphreys abilities to weave a story and will continue to read her works.
**I received an advanced readers copy for free and am leaving an honest review voluntarily. These are my own opinions and views.*
Humphreys is a fantastic world builder. She is great at describing the characters and their worlds. She makes to so easy to picture the settings and story. Even her secondary characters are easy to picture.
There are only three things I would’ve changed with this story. Or, things I wish had been handled differently as a reader.
1- Yesenia kind of just…fades out of the story. What happened? What’s with her noggin? Is she going to be picked up in another book?
2- I struggled with the chains of shame. Not sure why, I liked the idea of the enchantment, but I struggled with them.
3- insta-love is just not the trope for me. Zayne and Lucia profess their love for one another very early, so that isn’t a spoiler. They were thrust into each other’s arms so quickly, it made it difficult for me to believe. There wasn’t really any tension or build in the basic romance angle. I felt detached from this aspect of their story. While there was a lot of development in the characters, this just isn’t the trope for me.
Overall, this is a colorful and vivid retelling of a story Disney made sure we all knew a little about. I love the cultural aspects and the obvious family and support system emphasis. It is a sweet, clean story that is easy to read.
While the insta love isn’t my thing, I enjoy Humphreys abilities to weave a story and will continue to read her works.
**I received an advanced readers copy for free and am leaving an honest review voluntarily. These are my own opinions and views.*
October 18, 2023
This was an entertaining read, but it wasn't my favorite by Leialoha Humpherys.
First, what I liked: Lucia and Zayn were nicely fleshed out. They both had realistic character strengths and weaknesses and complemented each other well. They were both driven, focused characters. They were both forced to take a look at their priorities, what they've been so focused on their whole lives. They had to ask themselves if their goals were in the right order, and refocus on what truly mattered to them in the long run. I think this is a really necessary message. Additionally, I loved how merciful and forgiving Zayn was and Lucia's relationship with her family. I also loved Penelope, her parrot!
Slight spoilers ahead
I thought the plot of this book was I little lacking though. Personally, I am not a big fan of intsa-love, and Zayn wanting to kiss Lucia his first time meeting her turned me off a little bit. I also didn't love the final message of the book. Because it's a fairy-tale romance, the characters are pretty much guaranteed to have a happily-ever-after, but I didn't like the way it came about as much. And maybe I'm reading it too seriously, but I thought it felt like Lucia thought life wasn't worth living if she wasn't with Zayn and Zayn was willing to sacrifice his people to be with Lucia.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will read the final book of the series, but I wish the romance turned out slightly different.
I voluntarily accepted an Advance Reader Copy for my honest review.
First, what I liked: Lucia and Zayn were nicely fleshed out. They both had realistic character strengths and weaknesses and complemented each other well. They were both driven, focused characters. They were both forced to take a look at their priorities, what they've been so focused on their whole lives. They had to ask themselves if their goals were in the right order, and refocus on what truly mattered to them in the long run. I think this is a really necessary message. Additionally, I loved how merciful and forgiving Zayn was and Lucia's relationship with her family. I also loved Penelope, her parrot!
Slight spoilers ahead
I thought the plot of this book was I little lacking though. Personally, I am not a big fan of intsa-love, and Zayn wanting to kiss Lucia his first time meeting her turned me off a little bit. I also didn't love the final message of the book. Because it's a fairy-tale romance, the characters are pretty much guaranteed to have a happily-ever-after, but I didn't like the way it came about as much. And maybe I'm reading it too seriously, but I thought it felt like Lucia thought life wasn't worth living if she wasn't with Zayn and Zayn was willing to sacrifice his people to be with Lucia.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will read the final book of the series, but I wish the romance turned out slightly different.
I voluntarily accepted an Advance Reader Copy for my honest review.
December 29, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but there was just too much that made me cringe in the first chapter. For one, dahlias were *constantly* being mentioned. to the point I was like "umm, Leialoha does know there is more than one flower she could name off, right? 😂" And Penelope was referred to as a "him" at one point, before being called a "her" in the next sentence, which confused me until I realized it was a spelling error.
Oh, and the insta-love.... I'm totally open to it if it's done right and is believable, but this was waaay too cringe. Literally, the prince tried to kiss Lucia after only speaking with her *once* for like... two minutes, and then just holding her in his arms while she slept for 2 hours. Like what???
I wouldn't have minded if there was an obvious connection between them right away, and they felt drawn to each other. But for him to *instantly* be like "She's the one. Nope, don't care, I want her, forget what the golden wizard said." I'm just ... 🤦♀️ No. Just no.
I am totally open to reading books by new authors, and I'm even okay with spelling mistakes as long as the story is good and the writing overall is great. But this... yeah, couldn't do it lol
Rating it 2 stars because the potential is really great, and maybe it gets better, but I just couldn't hold out till then.
Oh, and the insta-love.... I'm totally open to it if it's done right and is believable, but this was waaay too cringe. Literally, the prince tried to kiss Lucia after only speaking with her *once* for like... two minutes, and then just holding her in his arms while she slept for 2 hours. Like what???
I wouldn't have minded if there was an obvious connection between them right away, and they felt drawn to each other. But for him to *instantly* be like "She's the one. Nope, don't care, I want her, forget what the golden wizard said." I'm just ... 🤦♀️ No. Just no.
I am totally open to reading books by new authors, and I'm even okay with spelling mistakes as long as the story is good and the writing overall is great. But this... yeah, couldn't do it lol
Rating it 2 stars because the potential is really great, and maybe it gets better, but I just couldn't hold out till then.
November 15, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. The concept is really good. I love having the retelling of sleeping beauty set in a jungle community with wildcats, an adorable pet parrot, and with a subtle magic system (there are enchantments but not everyone is wielding magic).
My issues come in with the instant falling in love: the chemistry between the main character's isn't believable. And there she so many weak plot points. The author makes the princess out to be cruel and strong and healthy, yet she is sick and weak and has a guard to faithfully cares for her. And she wants to do something for her kingdom but has no mercy on Lucia. It just doesn't track. It's also very repetitive… we get that Lucia wants to help her family, we get that Zayn wants to help his kingdom. It doesn't have to be said in 100 different ways.
Anyway. Young teens will probably enjoy this book and not find issue with it, but as an adult reading who enjoys clean YA fantasy and romance, it needed a little more work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My issues come in with the instant falling in love: the chemistry between the main character's isn't believable. And there she so many weak plot points. The author makes the princess out to be cruel and strong and healthy, yet she is sick and weak and has a guard to faithfully cares for her. And she wants to do something for her kingdom but has no mercy on Lucia. It just doesn't track. It's also very repetitive… we get that Lucia wants to help her family, we get that Zayn wants to help his kingdom. It doesn't have to be said in 100 different ways.
Anyway. Young teens will probably enjoy this book and not find issue with it, but as an adult reading who enjoys clean YA fantasy and romance, it needed a little more work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 18, 2023
'Enchanted at Fireblaze' is the perfect light fantasy read. It has a contemporary tone, making it easy to engage with. Despite this, the world building is phenomonal and completely immersive. The setting is unique which makes the novel all the more enthralling.
The relationships are realistically human, and the romance is sweet and comforting in its inevitability. The book also possesses a hearty dose of political intrigue, making it impossible to put down. It is clean and appropriate for all ages, and can be read as a stand alone novel or as part of the series.
I highly recommend this to any fantasy romance lover. I particularly encourage it for new Mums with little brain power, teens, or those new to the genre.
The relationships are realistically human, and the romance is sweet and comforting in its inevitability. The book also possesses a hearty dose of political intrigue, making it impossible to put down. It is clean and appropriate for all ages, and can be read as a stand alone novel or as part of the series.
I highly recommend this to any fantasy romance lover. I particularly encourage it for new Mums with little brain power, teens, or those new to the genre.
October 19, 2023
This book was so emotional and heartwarming! It was also very different from other sleeping beauty retellings, mainly because it takes place in Hispanic kingdom. It kind of reminds me a little of sleeping beauty episode of the old series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child.
For one thing instead of a princess, this sleeping beauty is a hardworking young Latino woman named Lucia who wants to provide for her entire family. All the while she is suffering from sleeping enchantment as punishment for a crime.
I enjoyed this story very much and I suggest whoever reads this review to as well.
For one thing instead of a princess, this sleeping beauty is a hardworking young Latino woman named Lucia who wants to provide for her entire family. All the while she is suffering from sleeping enchantment as punishment for a crime.
I enjoyed this story very much and I suggest whoever reads this review to as well.
October 25, 2023
A unique "Sleeping Beauty' retelling set on a jungle island (and later a desert island). I found the tone to be quite contemporary in terms of the social norms of the world and the style of language which will appeal to some more than others. The characters are well fleshed out and very real with real issues to struggle with, but the fact that they just about instantly fall in love feels . . . silly. Those few issues aside, it's quite an enjoyable, clean, light read.
I received an ARC on booksirens and offer an honest review in return.
I received an ARC on booksirens and offer an honest review in return.
October 27, 2023
I had trouble getting into this one for the first 20 ish%, but then I generally liked it ok. It was a quick and easy read. It's also a clean romance, so nothing more explicit than kissing is shown or implied.
I was pretty wary when I saw the author was very religious, which can be an orange flag for me, but that thankfully didn't translate much into the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was pretty wary when I saw the author was very religious, which can be an orange flag for me, but that thankfully didn't translate much into the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 20, 2023
This book felt like a combination of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. There were so many bad things that happened to the two main characters! They both had to overcome so many hardships and grow in ways that were uncomfortable to them! There was a happy ever after for this clean romance, and that made this book very satisfying to finish!
October 26, 2023
This is a beautiful retelling of Sleeping Beauty. This is a different type of sleeping beauty story and I love it!
Lucia has an enchantment on her and it makes life difficult.
Zayn is the newest to be named King and its of a new kingdom, Topaz Dusk.
Their journey is filled hope, loss, second chances, and love.
I recommend this retelling and the entire series!
Lucia has an enchantment on her and it makes life difficult.
Zayn is the newest to be named King and its of a new kingdom, Topaz Dusk.
Their journey is filled hope, loss, second chances, and love.
I recommend this retelling and the entire series!
November 11, 2023
I rated the book before without a review, but now let’s give a review.
I liked this book. It was good in every aspect except one. Well while I did acknowledge the love and chemistry between Zayn and Lucia, I did know that the love at first sight was a bit ridiculous here. I understood Zayn following his mother’s advice and all, but his feelings for Lucia just looking at her or speaking with her the first time—a few words really before her curse, was far fetched. Like I’ve read the love at first sight, but I’ve never believed it and I just can’t with it. Also I might have thought that just because of Lucia’s beauty, how could feelings be there?? Especially that, because he wanted to kiss her at their first encounter. Like why? Because he was in love her? Why? I believe it because of attraction at first. Because they do fall in love with each other.
But other than that, it was a good book with feelings that were realistic in rl and all.
I received an ARC and these are my own thoughts.
I liked this book. It was good in every aspect except one. Well while I did acknowledge the love and chemistry between Zayn and Lucia, I did know that the love at first sight was a bit ridiculous here. I understood Zayn following his mother’s advice and all, but his feelings for Lucia just looking at her or speaking with her the first time—a few words really before her curse, was far fetched. Like I’ve read the love at first sight, but I’ve never believed it and I just can’t with it. Also I might have thought that just because of Lucia’s beauty, how could feelings be there?? Especially that, because he wanted to kiss her at their first encounter. Like why? Because he was in love her? Why? I believe it because of attraction at first. Because they do fall in love with each other.
But other than that, it was a good book with feelings that were realistic in rl and all.
I received an ARC and these are my own thoughts.
October 23, 2023
Beautiful, sweet, and unique Beauty & The Beast retelling. The writing pulled me in immediately and didn't let me go until I had finished it. I loved it! Definitely recommend.
I received this as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2023
This book is okay! Everything about this book is okay! I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
November 8, 2023
It was a pretty fun book and I read through it quickly.
February 28, 2024
This book is amazing and wonderful!! The romance was definitely love at first sight, but it worked very well with the story. The main character, Lucia's family relationship, was very real and genuine. The romance is clean, and the interactions between them are sweet. This book is probably my favorite in the series because I can relate to the main characters. This book was written very beautifully, and I would definitely read this book again. ❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜❤️🦜
February 5, 2024
Leialoha Humpherys' Enchanted at Fireblaze is the fifth book in her Incandescent Kingdoms series. And it was so good, that I just HAD to buy it, so I could read it again and again and again.
Lucia's desire to help her family has helped her become a hard working businesswoman. I love how Lucia turns her past tragedies into a reason to help those less fortunate than herself. She likes to make people happy. I love seeing how she warms to Zayn's obvious interest over the course of the book.
Zayn believes in true love and love at first sight. He falls for Lucia as soon as he sees her, and although she rebuffs his advances, he is quite persistent (and it's SO CUTE!!!!!) It is also so sweet seeing how Zayn tries to combat his conflicting desires to help his people and win Lucia's heart.
The setting of the Fireblaze Kingdom feels so real!!! The Hispanic culture feels so authentic, and it makes this book so warm and bright and fun! Lei just writes the CUTEST settings (although, I think Hidden at Starshine has my favorite!).
Besides the two principal characters, my favorite character was definitely Yesenia. Yes, she's a bit of an antagonist, but I just found her character so complex and intriguing!!!
I thought that Zayn fell in love with Lucia a bit too quickly. Otherwise, I have no complaints!
Enchanted at Fireblaze was WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I've already re-read it several times! If you love fairy tale retellings with sweet, clean romance and complex characters, I know you will LOVE this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lucia's desire to help her family has helped her become a hard working businesswoman. I love how Lucia turns her past tragedies into a reason to help those less fortunate than herself. She likes to make people happy. I love seeing how she warms to Zayn's obvious interest over the course of the book.
Zayn believes in true love and love at first sight. He falls for Lucia as soon as he sees her, and although she rebuffs his advances, he is quite persistent (and it's SO CUTE!!!!!) It is also so sweet seeing how Zayn tries to combat his conflicting desires to help his people and win Lucia's heart.
The setting of the Fireblaze Kingdom feels so real!!! The Hispanic culture feels so authentic, and it makes this book so warm and bright and fun! Lei just writes the CUTEST settings (although, I think Hidden at Starshine has my favorite!).
Besides the two principal characters, my favorite character was definitely Yesenia. Yes, she's a bit of an antagonist, but I just found her character so complex and intriguing!!!
I thought that Zayn fell in love with Lucia a bit too quickly. Otherwise, I have no complaints!
Enchanted at Fireblaze was WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I've already re-read it several times! If you love fairy tale retellings with sweet, clean romance and complex characters, I know you will LOVE this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 1, 2024
This is a very original and lovely take on Sleeping Beauty!
Lucia is a wonderful character! She's a hard worker, she's loyal, and she cares very much for her family.
Zayn is very kind and attentive. He knows what he wants, and he'll fight for it.
Their romance is an insta love and a he falls first. While I'm not the biggest fan of insta love, they are really cute together. And their love definitely isn't easy.
The dual POV adds to their romance. I loved reading it from two perspectives!
I loved how realistic the characters are written, even Yesenia, she starts as the villain, but she's more layered than just that (I even hope for her own happy ever after).
I really felt sorry for Lucia and Zayn and the difficulties they had to face. Although, it made them stronger people.
The world-building was beautifully done. I wandered with them through the rainforest.
I really also loved the different and original way Leialoha incorporated the Sleeping Beauty elements! Very creative!
----------------------
I received an e-arc, this hasn't influenced my review!
Lucia is a wonderful character! She's a hard worker, she's loyal, and she cares very much for her family.
Zayn is very kind and attentive. He knows what he wants, and he'll fight for it.
Their romance is an insta love and a he falls first. While I'm not the biggest fan of insta love, they are really cute together. And their love definitely isn't easy.
The dual POV adds to their romance. I loved reading it from two perspectives!
I loved how realistic the characters are written, even Yesenia, she starts as the villain, but she's more layered than just that (I even hope for her own happy ever after).
I really felt sorry for Lucia and Zayn and the difficulties they had to face. Although, it made them stronger people.
The world-building was beautifully done. I wandered with them through the rainforest.
I really also loved the different and original way Leialoha incorporated the Sleeping Beauty elements! Very creative!
----------------------
I received an e-arc, this hasn't influenced my review!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews