Midwinter Fire

Collided Realms #3

by Daemonica Draco, SJ Sanders

Winter was a time haunted with darkness and inhabited by dangers seen and unseen, creatures that would consume the light and devour the living. And on the longest night these dangers were even closer and more powerful, threatening to overwhelm the darkest towns and villages, and catch the vulnerable out on the darkest streets. In most towns, mages and townspeople alike worked together to keep the streets and houses lit with firelight and the luminance of a cheerful spirit. That was not the case in Albanthy.The mage of Albanthy was nothing short of a miser, drawing his high fees and giving as little as possible in turn. As the mage’s employee, and promised apprentice should her work impress him, Ember Feuer was running out of all hope, her own spirit dwindling and as meager as the small flames she lit night after night on her spirit lantern. The call of the creatures hidden in the dark was a lure that was getting stronger and stronger, and she was beginning to fear that she wouldn’t be able to resist it for much longer until a flare of her lamp dropped a most unlikely being into her home.An elemental. A salamander. A horned male with ruby scales and dressed in a festive burgundy as if attending one of the midwinter parties that used to light up the town. A male with a plan to save her and her little town—if only they can rekindle the spark of warmth and hope. Even if they must haunt the town’s mage to accomplish it.

190 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2023

About the author

Pen name of S.J. Sanders

Reviews

[JML · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will fill you with the warmth of the season🔥🌟💖

Now this was a story that hit me In all the right places and was perfect for the holiday season. Vaza and Ember’s story brings warmth, love and the joy of new beginnings to the fore front. Both have suffered losses and feel at loose ends. Neither feels a true belonging and sense of purpose anymore. Until Ember a budding mage calls forth a fire with a holiday blessing and gets soooo much more than she bargained for. Vaza had no idea what he would find when he answered the Yule summons but a beautiful human female with a soul filled with fire and passion was not on his list. Together they try and desire the joy of the season in her little village.. They help heal old wounds , defeat Monsters and find out that true love does really conquer all! Love it !!! Give this story a chance highly recommend🌟💖🔥🌟💖🔥🌟💖🔥💖🌟🔥🌟💖🔥🌟💖🔥💖🌟🔥🌟🔥🌟💖🔥

[꧁ᙏᗣᙃⱿꙆᗣ꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a perfect Christmas Carol with Vaz's Salamander as the Christmas Spirit and Ember as his Little Match Girl. That's how I associated everything in this one story 🤩👍
That's why I give it 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ shiny Christmas stars.

[...]
This should scare her. That should have made her feel like she was being stalked by a monster. Perhaps she was - but he was her monster and she had never felt more wanted, more powerful, more alive when he held her beneath him.
[...]
'In all the joys I have seen in the many Christmases that have passed, you are a miracle I never expected,' he whispered. - And now that I have you, it's hard for me to imagine ever letting you go.

[Jannie Cv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical storytelling!
I adore Ember with her dedicated work ethic, her efforts to bring some magic to the Yule season in her town, but even she falters until unexpectedly she attracts a fire elemental - Vaza. He is amazing! With his encouragement and her innate magic, bit by bit, the townspeople begin to celebrate the spirit of the season. Not only that, but love is in the air - in some of the most unexpected places. I am in love with Ember and Vaza! Their story is enchanting. highly recommended!

[Lezel Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yule Love This!

More than 5 stars, my dears! These grown up stories just don't entertain, they bless your soul with vigor for the mind and hope for things to be made better. I was so satisfied with the ending and I wanted to see baby salamanders but a good imagination can make that happen. I have a secret love for Sanders and as Daemonica, she's doing swell as well! Gratitude with an attitude!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

What a sweet read for the holidays!! Ember and Gaza brought their own special blend of magic to the season. Thank you for sharing!

[LizKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just failed to hold my interest and I found myself bored and waiting for something to happen. Too much set-up for such a short book.