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The Dark Flame Series #1
The Rise of The Darkest Flame
Banished from her life of luxury and her high-ranking status in the Credulan Court, Carys Elletara had no other option than to become comfortable in her life of servitude. Working as a farm-hand, far away from the only other life she knew, her world comes crumbling down when the King and Queen die unexpectedly.
To make this tragedy even more life altering, Carys is dragged back to Credula (kicking and screaming) to marry the heir to the throne.
Damieren Thepyra is the crown prince of a crumbling kingdom on the cusp of war and the biggest thorn in her side. Once best friends, once lovers, and now strangers having to set aside their differences and a pain-filled past in order to rebuild their kingdom.
Faced with the traumas of their past, healing, forgiveness, and discovering oneself, The Rise of the Darkest Flame is tale of second chances and finding power in truth.
To make this tragedy even more life altering, Carys is dragged back to Credula (kicking and screaming) to marry the heir to the throne.
Damieren Thepyra is the crown prince of a crumbling kingdom on the cusp of war and the biggest thorn in her side. Once best friends, once lovers, and now strangers having to set aside their differences and a pain-filled past in order to rebuild their kingdom.
Faced with the traumas of their past, healing, forgiveness, and discovering oneself, The Rise of the Darkest Flame is tale of second chances and finding power in truth.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2024
201 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Whiteheart
5 books65 followersKatherine Whiteheart was raised in the mountains of North Carolina listening to stories of local haunts and lore. She always had a fearful attraction towards the supernatural and eventually found her niche in it—developing a love for the odd, the fae, and the mildly disturbing.
Katherine lives nestled in a valley in North Carolina with her husband, her sons, her cat, and the family gecko. If she is not writing, she is probably reading. Or chasing after her little cryptids.
Katherine lives nestled in a valley in North Carolina with her husband, her sons, her cat, and the family gecko. If she is not writing, she is probably reading. Or chasing after her little cryptids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 26, 2024
*adds Katherine Whiteheart to list of favorite authors*
I didn't know what to expect going into this as it's a debut, but WOW!! I was literally in the author's DMs screaming and crying when I finished it!! I cannot wait for book 2!!
I love an enemies-to-lovers trope, but this is a friends-to-lovers/second chance and it has me rethinking my preferences. It also had me crying a few times 😅
I loved everything about this book, honestly. The world building, character development, and spice were balanced perfectly! It’s so well written and thought through. The plot twists were INSANE (in the best way) and she wasn’t lying when she said this is HIGH STAKES fantasy.
I love these characters with my whole heart. Carys, our FMC, has been through some TRAUMA but is still so strong and fierce. I found her relatable. Ren is our Golden Retriever MMC and has been added to my list of book boyfriends. The banter between these two was top tier. Now, the villain - 🙃😤😡🤬 that's all I can say about him.
This is book 1 in a series and does end on a cliffhanger.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙚, 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙮𝙨.”
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🔥 Friends to lovers
🔥 Second chance
🔥 Marriage of convenience
🔥 High Stakes
🔥 Hidden powers
🔥 Trauma + healing
Thank you so much to Katherine Whiteheart for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I didn't know what to expect going into this as it's a debut, but WOW!! I was literally in the author's DMs screaming and crying when I finished it!! I cannot wait for book 2!!
I love an enemies-to-lovers trope, but this is a friends-to-lovers/second chance and it has me rethinking my preferences. It also had me crying a few times 😅
I loved everything about this book, honestly. The world building, character development, and spice were balanced perfectly! It’s so well written and thought through. The plot twists were INSANE (in the best way) and she wasn’t lying when she said this is HIGH STAKES fantasy.
I love these characters with my whole heart. Carys, our FMC, has been through some TRAUMA but is still so strong and fierce. I found her relatable. Ren is our Golden Retriever MMC and has been added to my list of book boyfriends. The banter between these two was top tier. Now, the villain - 🙃😤😡🤬 that's all I can say about him.
This is book 1 in a series and does end on a cliffhanger.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙚, 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙮𝙨.”
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🔥 Friends to lovers
🔥 Second chance
🔥 Marriage of convenience
🔥 High Stakes
🔥 Hidden powers
🔥 Trauma + healing
Thank you so much to Katherine Whiteheart for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 26, 2024
This was a great debut novel with such a unique storyline.
The way this brings in lore is so fun. I’ve never read anything remotely similar. It felt so original in this popular land of romantasy.
I really enjoyed the subtle hints of magic in the beginning. Feeling chills in the room, getting so heated, the inky black rage within.
There are also so many lines/paragraphs I have highlighted because the writing or storytelling felt so powerful. Some of the emotion felt so raw.
But I wanted MORE of everything. The author would give a glimpse of something, but then not expand on it as much as I wanted her to. There were details I found so intriguing, but before we learned more about it, we were moving onto something else. There are times we are simply told something instead of being shown (biggest example is their magic).
I understand some of the mystery is a tactic to further the plot. Keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of finding the answers. But throw me a bone occasionally. Keep me on the hook with a nugget of truth every now and then.
I think most of the issues I had with the book are things you’d expect in a debut. That said, I really think this author will hit her stride, and she will make waves.
***Potential spoilers if you’re going in blind***
I loved the second chance romance. I do love a fated mates, meeting later in life situation. But that’s all I see in romantasy. This was so different.
Loved the “why didn’t you look for me” moment. Loved the “did you ever stop looking for me” moment even more.
I’m hoping we learn more about the Credence and these Rune tattoos.
The way this brings in lore is so fun. I’ve never read anything remotely similar. It felt so original in this popular land of romantasy.
I really enjoyed the subtle hints of magic in the beginning. Feeling chills in the room, getting so heated, the inky black rage within.
There are also so many lines/paragraphs I have highlighted because the writing or storytelling felt so powerful. Some of the emotion felt so raw.
But I wanted MORE of everything. The author would give a glimpse of something, but then not expand on it as much as I wanted her to. There were details I found so intriguing, but before we learned more about it, we were moving onto something else. There are times we are simply told something instead of being shown (biggest example is their magic).
I understand some of the mystery is a tactic to further the plot. Keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of finding the answers. But throw me a bone occasionally. Keep me on the hook with a nugget of truth every now and then.
I think most of the issues I had with the book are things you’d expect in a debut. That said, I really think this author will hit her stride, and she will make waves.
***Potential spoilers if you’re going in blind***
I loved the second chance romance. I do love a fated mates, meeting later in life situation. But that’s all I see in romantasy. This was so different.
Loved the “why didn’t you look for me” moment. Loved the “did you ever stop looking for me” moment even more.
I’m hoping we learn more about the Credence and these Rune tattoos.
November 18, 2024
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR 👏🏼RIGHT👏🏼NOW👏🏼
5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of The Rise of the Darkest Flame! 🔥
This debut novel was truly epic! It’s the first in a new series and I’m so ready to see where this goes.
This is a fast paced dark fantasy romance featuring a fiesty FMC, a beautifully heartbreaking second chance romance, trauma and healing, and high stakes good vs evil plot line full of secrets and some shocking revelations.
I loved this story so much. The second chance romance plot was beautifully written. There was such heartbreak and betrayal, so much angst and I ATE IT UP!!!! The FMC, Carys, really comes into her own through the book and I was loving her energy in the end. The MMC is a golden retriever type with touch her and 💀 energy and super loveable imo.
I really think fans of From Blood and Ash, To Bleed a Crystal Bloom and Rain of Shadows and Endings will love the vibes in this book!
TROPES:
⚔️ Fiesty FMC
🐕 Golden Retriever MMC
🌹Second Chance Romance
🥰 Friends to Lovers
🔥 Hidden Powers
🏰 Court Politics
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🏡 Found Family
❤️🩹 Mental Health Rep
5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of The Rise of the Darkest Flame! 🔥
This debut novel was truly epic! It’s the first in a new series and I’m so ready to see where this goes.
This is a fast paced dark fantasy romance featuring a fiesty FMC, a beautifully heartbreaking second chance romance, trauma and healing, and high stakes good vs evil plot line full of secrets and some shocking revelations.
I loved this story so much. The second chance romance plot was beautifully written. There was such heartbreak and betrayal, so much angst and I ATE IT UP!!!! The FMC, Carys, really comes into her own through the book and I was loving her energy in the end. The MMC is a golden retriever type with touch her and 💀 energy and super loveable imo.
I really think fans of From Blood and Ash, To Bleed a Crystal Bloom and Rain of Shadows and Endings will love the vibes in this book!
TROPES:
⚔️ Fiesty FMC
🐕 Golden Retriever MMC
🌹Second Chance Romance
🥰 Friends to Lovers
🔥 Hidden Powers
🏰 Court Politics
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🏡 Found Family
❤️🩹 Mental Health Rep
May 7, 2024
All I can say is W O W!
For a debut novel, this is stunning.
The author's storytelling is masterful. The way every piece is developed without making the story predictable is so well done. The world building is unique, and I love how the reader gets information little by little to build the story. The conflicts and character development truly drive the story and culminates in an ending that truly left me speechless. I instantly wanted more (hello book 2!).
The overall pace of the story is perfect. The story speeds up and slows down at just the right moments with how the characters are developing and the conflicts produced in the story. I never felt like I was reading a book. The reverse is true, I felt like I was in the story and living and breathing right alongside the characters.
And to the characters. Shew. They are alive on the page. Carys, the FMC, is so complex and has so many layers that even she has to unfold. She has been through so much trauma that she has a hard time letting others in, loving another, and accepting who she really is. The growth of Carys is not easy nor is it in a straight line. She has to work to become who she is destined to be, but even then, Carys doesn't realize how strong she is. Then there is Ren, the MMC, who is strong, passionate, and only has eyes for Carys. Sounds perfect right? Well, Ren has his own reservations and problems to overcome. Can he be the King that makes changes for the betterment of his people? Can he prevent all-out war? Can he get past his overwhelming guilt to be with Carys? Can he overcome his own darkness? Will these two ever find their common ground to trust one another enough to love one another? If you need more convincing, the burn is slow, and the banter is purrrrrfection. The other great part about the characters in the story is that the secondary characters are just as strong and as interesting as the main characters. Again, the author doesn't throw away any character interaction. They are all meaningful and they all build to that cliff of an ending.
Favorite Quotes:
"I'm just scared that if I give you a single ounce of the person I was, you will do nothing but break me all over again."
"I ceased to exist the moment that you left this kingdom."
"You are your own person and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to be and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small."
As a final note:
Truly amazing writing takes you to a place where you become one with the story. All I can say is The Rise of the Darkest Flame is this and so much more.
For a debut novel, this is stunning.
The author's storytelling is masterful. The way every piece is developed without making the story predictable is so well done. The world building is unique, and I love how the reader gets information little by little to build the story. The conflicts and character development truly drive the story and culminates in an ending that truly left me speechless. I instantly wanted more (hello book 2!).
The overall pace of the story is perfect. The story speeds up and slows down at just the right moments with how the characters are developing and the conflicts produced in the story. I never felt like I was reading a book. The reverse is true, I felt like I was in the story and living and breathing right alongside the characters.
And to the characters. Shew. They are alive on the page. Carys, the FMC, is so complex and has so many layers that even she has to unfold. She has been through so much trauma that she has a hard time letting others in, loving another, and accepting who she really is. The growth of Carys is not easy nor is it in a straight line. She has to work to become who she is destined to be, but even then, Carys doesn't realize how strong she is. Then there is Ren, the MMC, who is strong, passionate, and only has eyes for Carys. Sounds perfect right? Well, Ren has his own reservations and problems to overcome. Can he be the King that makes changes for the betterment of his people? Can he prevent all-out war? Can he get past his overwhelming guilt to be with Carys? Can he overcome his own darkness? Will these two ever find their common ground to trust one another enough to love one another? If you need more convincing, the burn is slow, and the banter is purrrrrfection. The other great part about the characters in the story is that the secondary characters are just as strong and as interesting as the main characters. Again, the author doesn't throw away any character interaction. They are all meaningful and they all build to that cliff of an ending.
Favorite Quotes:
"I'm just scared that if I give you a single ounce of the person I was, you will do nothing but break me all over again."
"I ceased to exist the moment that you left this kingdom."
"You are your own person and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to be and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small."
As a final note:
Truly amazing writing takes you to a place where you become one with the story. All I can say is The Rise of the Darkest Flame is this and so much more.
July 7, 2024
I was sucked in from the first chapter. There were several times I would say out loud “oh my gosh this is getting good” or “what?!?” The banter between Carys, Damieren and Brynnick was chefs kiss. I loved that we seemed to grow with Carys as she learned new information and made decisions as the Queen that would better everyone and not just her.
But my gosh that cliffhanger. I was running for the second book and remembered this was an ARC I was fortunate enough to read. So I’m impatiently waiting for book two so I can DEVOUR it.
But my gosh that cliffhanger. I was running for the second book and remembered this was an ARC I was fortunate enough to read. So I’m impatiently waiting for book two so I can DEVOUR it.
August 13, 2024
“𝐻𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝓎 𝒸𝒽𝓊𝒸𝓀𝓁𝑒, 𝒶𝓇𝓂𝓈 𝓉𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝓊𝑔𝑔𝓁𝑒. “𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓇𝓊𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓂𝑒, 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝓎𝓈.”
𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤 that this was a debut novel…..like what!??? This is easily one of my favorite Romantasy books of the year. It’s definitely going on my list for top reads for the year. The world building…the magic….the PLOT TWISTS had me screaming…..but my love is for the characters….Carys and Ren. The tension and angst was done so beautifully. I was captivated by their relationship. They started out as friends which turned into a forbidden love affair but tragic things happened that sent Carys away and now that she’s back the tension between the two of them was on fire. Trust had to be earned, healing had to form but their love for one another never went away.
𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒𝒹… 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈, 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝓇. 𝐻𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓅 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝒞𝓇𝑒𝒹𝓊𝓁𝒶 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒—𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝓊𝒷𝒿𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓎.
It’s them against the world and I need the next book asap!!
𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤 that this was a debut novel…..like what!??? This is easily one of my favorite Romantasy books of the year. It’s definitely going on my list for top reads for the year. The world building…the magic….the PLOT TWISTS had me screaming…..but my love is for the characters….Carys and Ren. The tension and angst was done so beautifully. I was captivated by their relationship. They started out as friends which turned into a forbidden love affair but tragic things happened that sent Carys away and now that she’s back the tension between the two of them was on fire. Trust had to be earned, healing had to form but their love for one another never went away.
𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒𝒹… 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈, 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝓇. 𝐻𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝓇𝑜𝓅 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝒞𝓇𝑒𝒹𝓊𝓁𝒶 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒—𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝓊𝒷𝒿𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓎.
It’s them against the world and I need the next book asap!!
June 3, 2024
This is a beautiful debut novel from Katherine Whiteheart. You can tell how much time she took to build and create such a beautiful world.
This book is so incredibly different than any of the romantasy books I’ve read recently and I LOVED that, it helped me stay guessing. Which, I never guessed right with the twists.
And the second chance romance was ✨chefs kiss✨
There is so much heartbreak and growth between these pages but our FMC is so incredibly strong.
The beginning of the book starts off kind of slow with the heavy world building but when it picks up it PICKS UP.
I am so excited for the world to finally get their hands on The Rise Of The Darkest Flame and for Katherine to release an outstanding debut novel.
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Second chance love
Trauma + healing
Witty banter
Open door spice
This book is so incredibly different than any of the romantasy books I’ve read recently and I LOVED that, it helped me stay guessing. Which, I never guessed right with the twists.
And the second chance romance was ✨chefs kiss✨
There is so much heartbreak and growth between these pages but our FMC is so incredibly strong.
The beginning of the book starts off kind of slow with the heavy world building but when it picks up it PICKS UP.
I am so excited for the world to finally get their hands on The Rise Of The Darkest Flame and for Katherine to release an outstanding debut novel.
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Second chance love
Trauma + healing
Witty banter
Open door spice
May 23, 2024
WOW.
Katherine really made a splash into the Romantasy scene with this debut. Here are the stats concerning spice versus fantasy.
-3 open door s3x scenes. The scenes are vivid and descriptive. I would not consider them "kinky" personally, but that is highly subjective, of course.
Now that said, I do not read books for the spice. I will gladly read fantasy that is completely devoid of all romance if the fantasy is good. I review by pretending the s3x scenes weren't in the book and thinking about the story. Katherine delivered for me on the fantasy in a major way!! Here's what I loved:
-her descriptive ability to paint the scene of the story and the characters
-the character development of Carys.
-the magic system and powers happening within several of the characters and the parallels to how those characters cope with trauma. This is a book that is going to resonate with survivors.
-brutal battles
-villains you want to decimate
-the attention to detail on backstory. THE LORE IS LORING, baby!!!
I cannot wait to see the relationships and characters develop even further. It's hard for a first book in a long series to do everything, but the Rise of the Darkest Flame is in that tier for me. I can't wait to see how Damieren and Orion develop. I want to know about Dagan.
As the kids say, Katherine ate and left no crumbs.
Katherine really made a splash into the Romantasy scene with this debut. Here are the stats concerning spice versus fantasy.
-3 open door s3x scenes. The scenes are vivid and descriptive. I would not consider them "kinky" personally, but that is highly subjective, of course.
Now that said, I do not read books for the spice. I will gladly read fantasy that is completely devoid of all romance if the fantasy is good. I review by pretending the s3x scenes weren't in the book and thinking about the story. Katherine delivered for me on the fantasy in a major way!! Here's what I loved:
-her descriptive ability to paint the scene of the story and the characters
-the character development of Carys.
-the magic system and powers happening within several of the characters and the parallels to how those characters cope with trauma. This is a book that is going to resonate with survivors.
-brutal battles
-villains you want to decimate
-the attention to detail on backstory. THE LORE IS LORING, baby!!!
I cannot wait to see the relationships and characters develop even further. It's hard for a first book in a long series to do everything, but the Rise of the Darkest Flame is in that tier for me. I can't wait to see how Damieren and Orion develop. I want to know about Dagan.
As the kids say, Katherine ate and left no crumbs.
May 22, 2024
I miss these characters already!
The flow of the story is written beautifully. You become captivated into the realm quickly. History for world building is brought in at the beginning, but is easy to retain as you continue reading.
Right when you feel like you’ve figured something out and/or the characters have made up some trusting ground between them ... bam… something else is introduced into the story to chew on and decipher. This is why I love multiple pov hehehe.
There is a slow unraveling of the past that has led to the characters being where they are in the present. Because of this there are so many new things popping up and leave you reeling with so many questions. (You know when simple answers are given and the conversations shift, it’ll be epic discovery later on.) Ugh the suspense! But like I said before, slow unraveling of all the secrets, and the timing of all of them are spot on.
The chapters are nice and long too, so that one more chapter rule is chefs kiss hehe.
This book has a good balance of spice to it and the spice is 🌶️ 🥵❤️🔥.
I SAVORED the last 20% of this story and took my time reading it. Buuuut I was also terrified that something epic was going to pop out and shatter me 😅 I’m not going to tell you if I was right or not. I will tell you I highly recommend reading this book and know there will be more to come. You’ll be thanking me later.
The flow of the story is written beautifully. You become captivated into the realm quickly. History for world building is brought in at the beginning, but is easy to retain as you continue reading.
Right when you feel like you’ve figured something out and/or the characters have made up some trusting ground between them ... bam… something else is introduced into the story to chew on and decipher. This is why I love multiple pov hehehe.
There is a slow unraveling of the past that has led to the characters being where they are in the present. Because of this there are so many new things popping up and leave you reeling with so many questions. (You know when simple answers are given and the conversations shift, it’ll be epic discovery later on.) Ugh the suspense! But like I said before, slow unraveling of all the secrets, and the timing of all of them are spot on.
The chapters are nice and long too, so that one more chapter rule is chefs kiss hehe.
This book has a good balance of spice to it and the spice is 🌶️ 🥵❤️🔥.
I SAVORED the last 20% of this story and took my time reading it. Buuuut I was also terrified that something epic was going to pop out and shatter me 😅 I’m not going to tell you if I was right or not. I will tell you I highly recommend reading this book and know there will be more to come. You’ll be thanking me later.
May 17, 2024
This is my first ARC read. I didn't know what to expect, and something told me to sign up. Damn, I'm so glad I did!! Y'all!! This book is just W.O.W. I could not stop reading. I love a good fantasy read, but this is a GREAT fantasy read.
The progress of world building, romance, magic, and characters were good paced and just perfect. I loved the relationship between the characters, the good and even the bad. This storyline is unique, and I was constantly questioning what would happen next. This book is not predictable, and I loved every page turn of it.
Carys is my girl! I will defend her until the end! Her life story is a mystery and slowly unravels as the story progresses. I have mad respect for this FMC and all the struggles she's had to endure. I loved everything about Damieren. His charisma, playful stubbornness, and sarcasm traits make him charming. Brynnick! What's not to love about him.
Katherine Whiteheart can write!! This book is beautifully well written and captivated me from the start. I like her style and how she gave us a history of the world before diving into the actual story. It gave me a sense of the world she created and the type of characters in this world. I really do feel this will be the next big fantasy series. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to be a part of your ARC team. I can not wait for Book 2!!
Favorite quote: "We are not what people say we are, Carys. You are your own person and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small"
The progress of world building, romance, magic, and characters were good paced and just perfect. I loved the relationship between the characters, the good and even the bad. This storyline is unique, and I was constantly questioning what would happen next. This book is not predictable, and I loved every page turn of it.
Carys is my girl! I will defend her until the end! Her life story is a mystery and slowly unravels as the story progresses. I have mad respect for this FMC and all the struggles she's had to endure. I loved everything about Damieren. His charisma, playful stubbornness, and sarcasm traits make him charming. Brynnick! What's not to love about him.
Katherine Whiteheart can write!! This book is beautifully well written and captivated me from the start. I like her style and how she gave us a history of the world before diving into the actual story. It gave me a sense of the world she created and the type of characters in this world. I really do feel this will be the next big fantasy series. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to be a part of your ARC team. I can not wait for Book 2!!
Favorite quote: "We are not what people say we are, Carys. You are your own person and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small"
May 28, 2024
After spending years isolated from her friends and family, Carys finds herself back at Court where many things have changed. Carys grows through her shock and trauma as she navigates being back home, developing her powers, and preparing to become Queen(!!) Which brings us to Damieren, MMC, the new King, and her Ex love🔥🥵. Despite their past, Carys and Ren work together to change the rules and build an army to defeat the evil maniac, Dagan, from taking over everyone. Lies, secrets and betrayal. A traitor at court. Darkness and shadows. Don’t miss out on this one!
Fav tropes:
Slow burn 🔥
Spicy 🌶️🌶️
Second chance 💘
Magic 🔮
Court politics 👑
Impending war ⚔️
Betrayal 💔
Elves 🧝♂️
Drakes 🐉
Fav quote:
“I want you. Unlike I have ever wanted anyone in my whole life.”
Thank you to the author, K.A. Whiteheart, for letting me read this as an advanced copy. I am happily and voluntarily leaving this review.
Fav tropes:
Slow burn 🔥
Spicy 🌶️🌶️
Second chance 💘
Magic 🔮
Court politics 👑
Impending war ⚔️
Betrayal 💔
Elves 🧝♂️
Drakes 🐉
Fav quote:
“I want you. Unlike I have ever wanted anyone in my whole life.”
Thank you to the author, K.A. Whiteheart, for letting me read this as an advanced copy. I am happily and voluntarily leaving this review.
May 27, 2024
WOW! What a debut novel! I would totally give this book 1,000,000,000 ⭐️/10! This book grabs you right at the beginning and just does not let go! The FMC Carys is a badass and getting to watch her overcome her fears of failure to turn into a strong woman was amazing! I am normally. Enemies to lovers trope kind of girl but the friends to lovers/ redemption love arc of this book warmed my heart so much! Ren and Carys deserve the world and no one can convince me otherwise! This book can easily become a hit overnight on Bookstgram/BookTok, and lord I hope it does as it’s well deserved. The world building a character development was perfect, and it is everything a fantasy girlie like me loves! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book in the series! I miss these characters already and am tempted to read this book again just to be in the world again!
May 27, 2024
4.25 🌟
Are you looking for a high stakes fantasy novel similar to "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" and "Blood and Ash," but without vampires and with a focus on magic? Then this is the book for you! I thoroughly enjoyed the romance, and the way the mysteries of Caris slowly unraveled throught the book.
And that ending, wow! What happened? I need more!
There is spice in this book 🌶️
(TW - animal death. A «pet» horse is killed in this book, and eaten… If that is something that bothers you then keep this in mind).
Are you looking for a high stakes fantasy novel similar to "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" and "Blood and Ash," but without vampires and with a focus on magic? Then this is the book for you! I thoroughly enjoyed the romance, and the way the mysteries of Caris slowly unraveled throught the book.
And that ending, wow! What happened? I need more!
There is spice in this book 🌶️
(TW - animal death. A «pet» horse is killed in this book, and eaten… If that is something that bothers you then keep this in mind).
May 30, 2024
Excuse me, katherine, what was that ending?
This book was so good. The progress of world building, romance, magic, and characters were good paced and just perfect. I loved the relationship between the characters, the good and even the bad. This storyline is unique. I found myself needing to keep reading to find out what happened next. It's definitely a page turner. i am patiently waiting to find out what happens next.
This book was so good. The progress of world building, romance, magic, and characters were good paced and just perfect. I loved the relationship between the characters, the good and even the bad. This storyline is unique. I found myself needing to keep reading to find out what happened next. It's definitely a page turner. i am patiently waiting to find out what happens next.
August 1, 2024
CW: spice, some gore, references to r@pe, some others.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “Rise of the Darkest Flame” releases August 4, 2024.
It’s got all the bits and pieces, it just needs a little more smoothing out to really hit the mark.
15 years ago, Carys was banished from her homeland. Betrayed and abandoned by everyone she ever loved, she’s lived as an outcast against her will. When the man she once loved shows up, suddenly the king and requesting that she become his wife, Carys’ whole life changes once again.
This book does a lot of things. There’s a lot of moving parts to the story, and all of them hold a lot of promise. The land obviously has a lot of history, there’s a lot of magic and abilities within the citizens, and the romantic elements manage to deliver some really sweet moments. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite do it for me.
One of the things that comes along with being an ARC reader is that we frequently get a version of the book that isn’t fully polished. All the pieces are there, the story’s done, there’s just some typos here and there that need cleaning up. It comes with the territory, and you learn to ignore the majority of it. Sometimes, though, the issues are too noticeable to ignore, and that’s what happened here. Typos, sentence structure issues, punctuation and grammar problems— all of the things made an appearance, to the point that it was distracting and at times made the book difficult to understand. I can overlook a few problems, but this was a lot. As the story picked up pace I could work around a lot of it, but it considerably slowed me down as I tried to make my way through the book.
My other issue with the book was the transitions. Not so much the day-to-day things, though it was hard to really gauge time frames, but the switches between the main focuses in the plot. As I said, there was a lot going on, and I frequently found myself a little lost and trying to figure out why things were happening, or how we got to a certain point, or why a character suddenly did X. The book tries to do all the things all at once and doesn’t ever really give the individual pieces the space they need to flourish; it needs some more exposition and clarification.
For all my issues with the structuring and refinement, the meat of the story is really, really good. It has all the bits and pieces you could want in a good fantasy novel— magic, magical creatures, romance, war, a discernible villain who *isn’t* just a pissed off ex lover of the FMC. Where I was able to actually get into the plot and watch as events unfolded, I loved what I was reading. I enjoyed our FMC, the MMC has potential (though could probably use a little more backing to make him truly pop off the page), and there’s obviously a *lot* of history and backstory to the land that we don’t get a chance to coherently digest for this book. It all just needed a little bit of polishing to get it to the point where it could truly shine.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. I wanted to know what happened next, and I wasn’t having to fight tooth and nail to focus on finishing it. I think it has a lot of potential, and if I wasn’t having to negotiate through the structural and editing issues it probably would have felt more coherent. I’d like to see where book 2 goes, and I think the series as a whole will turn out to be really, really good.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “Rise of the Darkest Flame” releases August 4, 2024.
It’s got all the bits and pieces, it just needs a little more smoothing out to really hit the mark.
15 years ago, Carys was banished from her homeland. Betrayed and abandoned by everyone she ever loved, she’s lived as an outcast against her will. When the man she once loved shows up, suddenly the king and requesting that she become his wife, Carys’ whole life changes once again.
This book does a lot of things. There’s a lot of moving parts to the story, and all of them hold a lot of promise. The land obviously has a lot of history, there’s a lot of magic and abilities within the citizens, and the romantic elements manage to deliver some really sweet moments. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite do it for me.
One of the things that comes along with being an ARC reader is that we frequently get a version of the book that isn’t fully polished. All the pieces are there, the story’s done, there’s just some typos here and there that need cleaning up. It comes with the territory, and you learn to ignore the majority of it. Sometimes, though, the issues are too noticeable to ignore, and that’s what happened here. Typos, sentence structure issues, punctuation and grammar problems— all of the things made an appearance, to the point that it was distracting and at times made the book difficult to understand. I can overlook a few problems, but this was a lot. As the story picked up pace I could work around a lot of it, but it considerably slowed me down as I tried to make my way through the book.
My other issue with the book was the transitions. Not so much the day-to-day things, though it was hard to really gauge time frames, but the switches between the main focuses in the plot. As I said, there was a lot going on, and I frequently found myself a little lost and trying to figure out why things were happening, or how we got to a certain point, or why a character suddenly did X. The book tries to do all the things all at once and doesn’t ever really give the individual pieces the space they need to flourish; it needs some more exposition and clarification.
For all my issues with the structuring and refinement, the meat of the story is really, really good. It has all the bits and pieces you could want in a good fantasy novel— magic, magical creatures, romance, war, a discernible villain who *isn’t* just a pissed off ex lover of the FMC. Where I was able to actually get into the plot and watch as events unfolded, I loved what I was reading. I enjoyed our FMC, the MMC has potential (though could probably use a little more backing to make him truly pop off the page), and there’s obviously a *lot* of history and backstory to the land that we don’t get a chance to coherently digest for this book. It all just needed a little bit of polishing to get it to the point where it could truly shine.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. I wanted to know what happened next, and I wasn’t having to fight tooth and nail to focus on finishing it. I think it has a lot of potential, and if I wasn’t having to negotiate through the structural and editing issues it probably would have felt more coherent. I’d like to see where book 2 goes, and I think the series as a whole will turn out to be really, really good.
July 5, 2024
✨ Spoiler-free ARC Review ✨
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
When I tell you that The Rise of the Darkest Flame is a high-stakes fantasy, I mean it. The unique world-building, character development, and spice were perfectly balanced with major plot twists at every turn. My jaw is bruised from hitting the floor several times (and I loved it).
You start out by reading through Carys’s POV, our FMC, and quickly learn that she struggles with childhood trauma, abandonment issues, and has a core feeling of “not being good enough.” As someone who has dealt with these same issues in the past (years of therapy worked wonders, so no sad faces here 😉), I immediately felt connected to Carys. I can’t tell you how many times I cried, both sad and happy tears, as you watch her character develop and heal throughout the book.
Now let’s talk about Damieren (Ren), our Golden Retriever MMC who is now my #1 book boyfriend (sorry Cassian). While Ren is strong, passionate, and only has eyes for Carys, he also has his own demons to overcome. Can he be the King that makes changes to better his kingdom and his people? Can he save his crumbling kingdom on the cusp of war? Can he overcome his own guilt and darkness? Will him and Carys ever find common ground? Once best friends, once lovers, and now strangers, Ren and Carys are forced to navigate through their trauma-filled past. Their journey through forgiveness, trust and healing is so powerful and will pull on your heartstrings. Let's just say the burn is slow and it is perfection.
Katherine, you are a master in the art of writing. Your attention to detail and overall pace of the story had me feeling like I was living right alongside my favorite characters.
I can talk about this book all day, but I’m just going to say that I loved everything about it from the first sentence to the last. I will literally stand on a rooftop and scream, “I love The Rise of the Darkest Flame!” Dare me.
What to expect:
- friends to lovers
- slow burn
- found family
- high stakes
- marriage of convenience
- court politics
- hidden powers
- trauma + healing
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
When I tell you that The Rise of the Darkest Flame is a high-stakes fantasy, I mean it. The unique world-building, character development, and spice were perfectly balanced with major plot twists at every turn. My jaw is bruised from hitting the floor several times (and I loved it).
You start out by reading through Carys’s POV, our FMC, and quickly learn that she struggles with childhood trauma, abandonment issues, and has a core feeling of “not being good enough.” As someone who has dealt with these same issues in the past (years of therapy worked wonders, so no sad faces here 😉), I immediately felt connected to Carys. I can’t tell you how many times I cried, both sad and happy tears, as you watch her character develop and heal throughout the book.
Now let’s talk about Damieren (Ren), our Golden Retriever MMC who is now my #1 book boyfriend (sorry Cassian). While Ren is strong, passionate, and only has eyes for Carys, he also has his own demons to overcome. Can he be the King that makes changes to better his kingdom and his people? Can he save his crumbling kingdom on the cusp of war? Can he overcome his own guilt and darkness? Will him and Carys ever find common ground? Once best friends, once lovers, and now strangers, Ren and Carys are forced to navigate through their trauma-filled past. Their journey through forgiveness, trust and healing is so powerful and will pull on your heartstrings. Let's just say the burn is slow and it is perfection.
Katherine, you are a master in the art of writing. Your attention to detail and overall pace of the story had me feeling like I was living right alongside my favorite characters.
I can talk about this book all day, but I’m just going to say that I loved everything about it from the first sentence to the last. I will literally stand on a rooftop and scream, “I love The Rise of the Darkest Flame!” Dare me.
What to expect:
- friends to lovers
- slow burn
- found family
- high stakes
- marriage of convenience
- court politics
- hidden powers
- trauma + healing
July 3, 2024
✨The Rise of the Darkest Flame✨
There’s just something about a second chance/friends to lovers romance that has me unable to put that book down, always in hopes that on the next page they release their inhibitions and realize they’ve loved each other all along.
This story was so utterly emotional. The feelings I felt were so raw, aching, and realistic. Whiteheart did an amazing job at capturing both POVs of the MMC and FMC- each having suffered immensely in different and similar ways. The angst, pining, unrequited feelings, the guilt and shame, but also the innocent hope in every moment. The small smiles and soft touches… the way they came together. Be still, my heart.
We get to follow several POVs but mainly between Carys and Ren. Carys, having been cast aside and abandoned by her family and all she knew, is suddenly thrust back into court and an arranged marriage to the man she loved but also who let her go. Old feelings resurface as she discovers her past isn’t what she thought, a power is awakening, and deals being made regarding her have resulted in a tumultuous darkness coming.
TROTDF is full of lore and the setup of a unique magic system. Whiteheart lays such an interesting foundation as we also get to navigate a romance that hurts in the most beautiful way.
Tropes you may find in TROTDF are second chance romance, friends to lovers, he falls first, golden retriever SHADOW DADDY, chosen one, forced proximity, arranged marriage, fated mates, feminine rage, spice 3/5, hidden identities, plot twists, court intrigue, and a cliffhanger.
Thank you SO MUCH K for this gifted arc. I cannot wait to see what happens next! Rise releases August 4!
There’s just something about a second chance/friends to lovers romance that has me unable to put that book down, always in hopes that on the next page they release their inhibitions and realize they’ve loved each other all along.
This story was so utterly emotional. The feelings I felt were so raw, aching, and realistic. Whiteheart did an amazing job at capturing both POVs of the MMC and FMC- each having suffered immensely in different and similar ways. The angst, pining, unrequited feelings, the guilt and shame, but also the innocent hope in every moment. The small smiles and soft touches… the way they came together. Be still, my heart.
We get to follow several POVs but mainly between Carys and Ren. Carys, having been cast aside and abandoned by her family and all she knew, is suddenly thrust back into court and an arranged marriage to the man she loved but also who let her go. Old feelings resurface as she discovers her past isn’t what she thought, a power is awakening, and deals being made regarding her have resulted in a tumultuous darkness coming.
TROTDF is full of lore and the setup of a unique magic system. Whiteheart lays such an interesting foundation as we also get to navigate a romance that hurts in the most beautiful way.
Tropes you may find in TROTDF are second chance romance, friends to lovers, he falls first, golden retriever SHADOW DADDY, chosen one, forced proximity, arranged marriage, fated mates, feminine rage, spice 3/5, hidden identities, plot twists, court intrigue, and a cliffhanger.
Thank you SO MUCH K for this gifted arc. I cannot wait to see what happens next! Rise releases August 4!
July 8, 2024
Wow. This was an incredible debut. I am still floored and it’s been a few weeks now since I finished!
Immediately, you jump into the lore and get swept away by the history—it’s giving lord of the rings but more female characters and romance (something I always thought it needed THERE I SAID IT). This is the story of Carys and Damieren, and their love story was heartachingly beautiful. A second chance romance brimming with tension and longing. It was so refreshing to read this trope in a fantasy! I love them as individuals and together.
Katherine is a master wordsmith. She crafted an immersive and captivating world filled with diverse races, creatures, and a rich history. The twists were hitting and kept you on your toes. Mother kept you fed until more and more truths were uncovered. Her characters felt real with their flaws and she even made me care for a character who we never get to meet on page but their love story was just so beautiful, I was tearing up.
I can’t wait for more, these characters have my heart and I may riot if Brynnick doesn’t have a HEA. Don’t miss out on this one!
Immediately, you jump into the lore and get swept away by the history—it’s giving lord of the rings but more female characters and romance (something I always thought it needed THERE I SAID IT). This is the story of Carys and Damieren, and their love story was heartachingly beautiful. A second chance romance brimming with tension and longing. It was so refreshing to read this trope in a fantasy! I love them as individuals and together.
Katherine is a master wordsmith. She crafted an immersive and captivating world filled with diverse races, creatures, and a rich history. The twists were hitting and kept you on your toes. Mother kept you fed until more and more truths were uncovered. Her characters felt real with their flaws and she even made me care for a character who we never get to meet on page but their love story was just so beautiful, I was tearing up.
I can’t wait for more, these characters have my heart and I may riot if Brynnick doesn’t have a HEA. Don’t miss out on this one!
June 12, 2024
~ARC REVIEW~
Firstly i just gotta say, Ren is 😮💨.
Secondly, i loved this book. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending, cause helllooooooo cliffhanger. The character development was so good. You get to grow with Cary’s and i loved that. I loved the banter between her, ren and brynnick. I love the love story of her and ren. I just love this book! So good.
*Update*
It’s been a few days and was able to digest this one. This book hits hard in some places. Cary’s has been through a lot and doesn’t understand why she was treated the way she was till the very end. And poor ren. He never stopped searching for her. 😭 The love he has for Cary’s is top tier! I love the way he treats her. Not your average shadow daddy by any means!
Second chance romance
Marriage of convenience
Hidden powers
Royals
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Golden retriever/black cat
Releases August 5th! 🫶🏼
Firstly i just gotta say, Ren is 😮💨.
Secondly, i loved this book. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending, cause helllooooooo cliffhanger. The character development was so good. You get to grow with Cary’s and i loved that. I loved the banter between her, ren and brynnick. I love the love story of her and ren. I just love this book! So good.
*Update*
It’s been a few days and was able to digest this one. This book hits hard in some places. Cary’s has been through a lot and doesn’t understand why she was treated the way she was till the very end. And poor ren. He never stopped searching for her. 😭 The love he has for Cary’s is top tier! I love the way he treats her. Not your average shadow daddy by any means!
Second chance romance
Marriage of convenience
Hidden powers
Royals
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Golden retriever/black cat
Releases August 5th! 🫶🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2024
This book was absolutely perfect.
August 11, 2024
It didn’t take me to long to get into this book. We have a little bit of everything in here from classic world building, friends to enemies to lovers, second chance, high stakes, marriage of convenience, and more!
Here we have our young and beautiful FMC, Carys, who was banished by her kingdom and sent to the outskirts to survive. She has been through a lot throughout the book, along with a lot of hidden information and betrayal. But she comes out on top stronger and feeling worthy of herself in the end.
Ren, our hottie MMC, is definitely that cinnamon roll, golden retriever type of persona. He gets himself into a bargain that in all its purposes did not turn out the way it was planned. Lots of plot twists. However, I loved his character and his willingness to stand by Carys through it all. Their banter was such a vibe!
The ending had me reeling and saying, “Really?? What the heck?” BOOM, cliffhanger. But it’s definitely one that I will pursue more in book 2!
Thank you so much to the author and book sirens for this ARC! This review is honest and my own. I look forward to reading more about Carys and Ren!!
Here we have our young and beautiful FMC, Carys, who was banished by her kingdom and sent to the outskirts to survive. She has been through a lot throughout the book, along with a lot of hidden information and betrayal. But she comes out on top stronger and feeling worthy of herself in the end.
Ren, our hottie MMC, is definitely that cinnamon roll, golden retriever type of persona. He gets himself into a bargain that in all its purposes did not turn out the way it was planned. Lots of plot twists. However, I loved his character and his willingness to stand by Carys through it all. Their banter was such a vibe!
The ending had me reeling and saying, “Really?? What the heck?” BOOM, cliffhanger. But it’s definitely one that I will pursue more in book 2!
Thank you so much to the author and book sirens for this ARC! This review is honest and my own. I look forward to reading more about Carys and Ren!!
July 18, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I LOVED this story, this world, these characters, the writing .. I was hooked almost immediately!!
The way the story flowed and the TWISTS & TURNS & TEARS !!
So much happened and i loved every minute of it. I loved the history between the main characters and i loved every bit of growth and bumps they experienced.
Carys is such a strong & powerful FMC who has been THROUGH IT.. Ren is now towards the top of my book boyfriend list & he deserves the world. They both do.
“I’m not quite certain I know what my purpose is, either.” “Perhaps we can find them together.” I sighed, pressing the book into my chest. “Perhaps.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I LOVED this story, this world, these characters, the writing .. I was hooked almost immediately!!
The way the story flowed and the TWISTS & TURNS & TEARS !!
So much happened and i loved every minute of it. I loved the history between the main characters and i loved every bit of growth and bumps they experienced.
Carys is such a strong & powerful FMC who has been THROUGH IT.. Ren is now towards the top of my book boyfriend list & he deserves the world. They both do.
“I’m not quite certain I know what my purpose is, either.” “Perhaps we can find them together.” I sighed, pressing the book into my chest. “Perhaps.”
August 4, 2024
I absolutely loveeee this boook!!! It's a solid 5-star read and a masterpiece for a debut novel. The way the author captured emotions was so raw that I felt like I was right there with the characters, living and breathing their experiences. The plot twists were mind-blowing, especially that LAST CHAPTER. I was literally on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see what would happen. That cliffhanger hanger left me desperately wanting the next book - I'll be counting the days!!
CARYS is a character who I believe many people would relate to. I hated how she was treated by her closest. Her mother, who was supposed to be her greatest strength, did all that because she was afraid. (For what ?! You'll know when you read the last 30% of the book.) she has so many traumas and layers, hiding her true self. She struggles to let her friends in, share her past, and accept who she truly is at her core. But as the story progresses, she starts to blossom. Fierce by nature, by birth, she's funny, caring, loyal, and selfless. Her life story, her past is revealed piece by piece, and it makes it easier to understand her. I have so much respect and admiration for her. For the person, she became in the second half of the book. She doesn't realise how strong she truly is.
DAMIEREN, the King of Credula, his charisma, playful stubbornness, and sarcastic traits made him a lovable character. His banter with Carys is hilarious, and his dedication to bettering the kingdom for his people is admirable. His problems, he handled them to the best of his ability. He strives to be king people can respect and live up to, instead of being frightened and cowering in his presence.
The pacing of the books is perfect, with slow and fast moments in all the right places. The battle scenes were well described, and the story flows beautifully, never failing to keep me engrossed. Brynnick is another character you can't help but love. He's a loyal friend and cousin, general of the army, who sticks with them through every step. I already miss them. I was hooked from the very first chapter. I've never highlighted so many sentences in one book. The emotional depth, the unexpected twists, and the engaging and lovable characters make it a must-read. If you're looking for a book to pull you in and not let go. This is it. However, I feel like those who don't like too much emotional stuff in a book could feel overwhelmed.
My FAVOURITE QUOTE: "We are not what people say we are, Carys. You are your own person, and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small."
CARYS is a character who I believe many people would relate to. I hated how she was treated by her closest. Her mother, who was supposed to be her greatest strength, did all that because she was afraid. (For what ?! You'll know when you read the last 30% of the book.) she has so many traumas and layers, hiding her true self. She struggles to let her friends in, share her past, and accept who she truly is at her core. But as the story progresses, she starts to blossom. Fierce by nature, by birth, she's funny, caring, loyal, and selfless. Her life story, her past is revealed piece by piece, and it makes it easier to understand her. I have so much respect and admiration for her. For the person, she became in the second half of the book. She doesn't realise how strong she truly is.
DAMIEREN, the King of Credula, his charisma, playful stubbornness, and sarcastic traits made him a lovable character. His banter with Carys is hilarious, and his dedication to bettering the kingdom for his people is admirable. His problems, he handled them to the best of his ability. He strives to be king people can respect and live up to, instead of being frightened and cowering in his presence.
The pacing of the books is perfect, with slow and fast moments in all the right places. The battle scenes were well described, and the story flows beautifully, never failing to keep me engrossed. Brynnick is another character you can't help but love. He's a loyal friend and cousin, general of the army, who sticks with them through every step. I already miss them. I was hooked from the very first chapter. I've never highlighted so many sentences in one book. The emotional depth, the unexpected twists, and the engaging and lovable characters make it a must-read. If you're looking for a book to pull you in and not let go. This is it. However, I feel like those who don't like too much emotional stuff in a book could feel overwhelmed.
My FAVOURITE QUOTE: "We are not what people say we are, Carys. You are your own person, and you have every bit of freedom to choose who you want to and what you want to be remembered for. Don't let someone else's fear of greatness keep you small."
August 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
The Rise of the Darkest Flame is truly a fantastic debut! It’s a slightly longer book, but honestly with how interesting the story is, I hardly noticed the length of the book. I absolutely devoured it.
Ren is just…exquisite. I love him, and I would die for that man. He’s such a lovable character and his complete devotion to Carys is really fantastic. I’m not normally a friends to lovers type of girl, but it’s done so incredibly well in The Rise of the Darkest Flame that I found myself wondering if maybe I need to give friends to lovers more of a chance.
Carys could be pretty frustrating at times (particularly with her decision towards the end of the book), but she’s also a character that has been through immense trauma in her life, so I had to remind myself to cut her a little slack. Overall, I really do like her as a character, and I really can’t wait to see what she does in the next book.
As I said before, this was a fantastic debut that leaves me very excited to see what Katherine Whiteheart does next. I’m eager to see more of Carys and Ren in book two! I would highly recommend picking this book up if you love spicy, dark fantasy romance.
Thank you so much to BookSirens and Katherine Whiteheart for the advance copy of The Rise of the Darkest Flame. All opinions are my own.
The Rise of the Darkest Flame is truly a fantastic debut! It’s a slightly longer book, but honestly with how interesting the story is, I hardly noticed the length of the book. I absolutely devoured it.
Ren is just…exquisite. I love him, and I would die for that man. He’s such a lovable character and his complete devotion to Carys is really fantastic. I’m not normally a friends to lovers type of girl, but it’s done so incredibly well in The Rise of the Darkest Flame that I found myself wondering if maybe I need to give friends to lovers more of a chance.
Carys could be pretty frustrating at times (particularly with her decision towards the end of the book), but she’s also a character that has been through immense trauma in her life, so I had to remind myself to cut her a little slack. Overall, I really do like her as a character, and I really can’t wait to see what she does in the next book.
As I said before, this was a fantastic debut that leaves me very excited to see what Katherine Whiteheart does next. I’m eager to see more of Carys and Ren in book two! I would highly recommend picking this book up if you love spicy, dark fantasy romance.
Thank you so much to BookSirens and Katherine Whiteheart for the advance copy of The Rise of the Darkest Flame. All opinions are my own.
August 11, 2024
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love this book. As a debut book it is amazing. The worldbuilding, the characters, the passion between the main characters. There were so many things I did not see coming.
Carys is living a simple life, but has to go back to her old life. She has been through a lot and is strong and fierce. She doesn't let people just walk over her. She has a lot of work ahead of her too.
Ren is playful, stubborn, charming and sarcastic. I didn't like that much at the start but he grew on me, as we learned what really lay underneath. The banter between Carys and Ren is top tier.
The passion between these two is HOOOT🌶️ 🥵❤️🔥. The scenes are vivid and descriptive.
“I’d let you use my face as a damned carpet if it meant I could touch you every day. But I would much rather prefer you to use it as a chair.”
I can't wait for book 2. When it ended I was frustrated. I wanted more! And that cliffhanger?! ✨chefs kiss✨ Goddamn that was beautifully written.
“If I hadn’t found you that day, I would still be searching. And if they had made me take any other woman to be my wife, I would have burned this kingdom down to the ground in refute.”
I love this book. As a debut book it is amazing. The worldbuilding, the characters, the passion between the main characters. There were so many things I did not see coming.
Carys is living a simple life, but has to go back to her old life. She has been through a lot and is strong and fierce. She doesn't let people just walk over her. She has a lot of work ahead of her too.
Ren is playful, stubborn, charming and sarcastic. I didn't like that much at the start but he grew on me, as we learned what really lay underneath. The banter between Carys and Ren is top tier.
The passion between these two is HOOOT🌶️ 🥵❤️🔥. The scenes are vivid and descriptive.
“I’d let you use my face as a damned carpet if it meant I could touch you every day. But I would much rather prefer you to use it as a chair.”
I can't wait for book 2. When it ended I was frustrated. I wanted more! And that cliffhanger?! ✨chefs kiss✨ Goddamn that was beautifully written.
“If I hadn’t found you that day, I would still be searching. And if they had made me take any other woman to be my wife, I would have burned this kingdom down to the ground in refute.”
August 4, 2024
First, I’d like to start off as saying holy freaking moly! This book….⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ hands down.
Thank you Katherine Whiteheart for this opportunity!! My sister and I are honored to be one of the first people to read this book 🖤
The world that the author created was so unique and captivating. The relationship between Ren and Carys was realistic and RELATABLE! We all know relationships are messy with a lot of back and forth. She did not disappoint.
The world building in the beginning is a lot to take in but it does piece itself together very nicely throughout the book with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing. This is a long book! She created a whole ass world and did it beautifully.
I laughed, I cried, I got a little sassy, and I sympathized with the characters in this book as if I was experiencing their world with them. I had so many late nights reading this book because I just needed to know what happened next!
Stay through the world building and get to the end… you will absolutely not regret it!! 💜
Thank you Katherine Whiteheart for this opportunity!! My sister and I are honored to be one of the first people to read this book 🖤
The world that the author created was so unique and captivating. The relationship between Ren and Carys was realistic and RELATABLE! We all know relationships are messy with a lot of back and forth. She did not disappoint.
The world building in the beginning is a lot to take in but it does piece itself together very nicely throughout the book with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing. This is a long book! She created a whole ass world and did it beautifully.
I laughed, I cried, I got a little sassy, and I sympathized with the characters in this book as if I was experiencing their world with them. I had so many late nights reading this book because I just needed to know what happened next!
Stay through the world building and get to the end… you will absolutely not regret it!! 💜
June 20, 2024
***SPOILER FREE***
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Holy hecking ballz. By the Gods.🥲
I was gifted the honor to be an ARC reader for “The Rise Of The Darkest Flame,” by Katherine Whiteheart.
And let me tell you…this book is it! The world building..the story line is chefs kiss.
The twist and turns in this book. The sudden “wtf” moments. Had me wanting more.
This book kept me on my toes and I did not want to put it down.
If you love
- Romanatsy
- Friends to lovers
- Second Chances
- Golden Retriever BF/ Black Cat GF
I enjoyed this book and story so much, I can not wait for more and to go back to Credula! 🥰✨
Book releases on August 4th 2024
Special edition/ signed copies are available on Katherine’s website until the end of June!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Holy hecking ballz. By the Gods.🥲
I was gifted the honor to be an ARC reader for “The Rise Of The Darkest Flame,” by Katherine Whiteheart.
And let me tell you…this book is it! The world building..the story line is chefs kiss.
The twist and turns in this book. The sudden “wtf” moments. Had me wanting more.
This book kept me on my toes and I did not want to put it down.
If you love
- Romanatsy
- Friends to lovers
- Second Chances
- Golden Retriever BF/ Black Cat GF
I enjoyed this book and story so much, I can not wait for more and to go back to Credula! 🥰✨
Book releases on August 4th 2024
Special edition/ signed copies are available on Katherine’s website until the end of June!
June 20, 2024
GIRL YOU BETTER GIVE ME A SEQUEL ASAP BECAUSE WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!?!
No but seriously I loved this. Carys' journey is just so compelling and there were so many things that I simply did not see coming.
Brynnick needs to get paid more tbh. I might've loved him even more than Ren. He was so freaking done with everyone and just wanted to live his best life with his lil girlfriend. 11/10 for Brynnick. Definitely deserves a raise and some land and his own castle.
There were some really small nitpicky things that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me but they're just dumb little preferences so I'm not even going to hoist them on you.
Kindly release the sequel yesterday. The rest of you, buy this the literal second it comes out. I'm not asking. I'm telling.
No but seriously I loved this. Carys' journey is just so compelling and there were so many things that I simply did not see coming.
Brynnick needs to get paid more tbh. I might've loved him even more than Ren. He was so freaking done with everyone and just wanted to live his best life with his lil girlfriend. 11/10 for Brynnick. Definitely deserves a raise and some land and his own castle.
There were some really small nitpicky things that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me but they're just dumb little preferences so I'm not even going to hoist them on you.
Kindly release the sequel yesterday. The rest of you, buy this the literal second it comes out. I'm not asking. I'm telling.
December 24, 2024
This was a fun read. I stayed up late to finish because I just had to know what happened. I loved the second chance romance between Carys and Ren. There is so much pain and history that they need to process, and the looming war just keeps tearing them apart.
I loved that we got some history on the world before the book began so we could orient ourselves. This was very character/romance heavy but I feel like it's the perfect setup for book 2. You really connect and grow to love these characters. I cannot wait for book 2!
Definitely read if you like:
💕Arranged marriage
💫Second chance
🗡He trains her
🌸3 POV
🧝🏾♂️Unique magic system
🖤Cliffhanger
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved that we got some history on the world before the book began so we could orient ourselves. This was very character/romance heavy but I feel like it's the perfect setup for book 2. You really connect and grow to love these characters. I cannot wait for book 2!
Definitely read if you like:
💕Arranged marriage
💫Second chance
🗡He trains her
🌸3 POV
🧝🏾♂️Unique magic system
🖤Cliffhanger
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
As with every fantasy novel there is a lot of world building. It took me a little bit to get into this because the chapters are longer but once I got my mind over that little hurdle it was excellent! I also liked that there were flashbacks here and there that gave more to the story instead of building it all at once.
I am a sucker for banter. I love it all! And the banter in this book was top notch! There were so many times I was smirking right along with the characters as they threw back their retorts!
This story was so well written. There were a lot of twists and plots that worked so well together. I am absolutely going to be following Katherine Whiteheart for more books. I am excited to see how this series unfolds.
I am a sucker for banter. I love it all! And the banter in this book was top notch! There were so many times I was smirking right along with the characters as they threw back their retorts!
This story was so well written. There were a lot of twists and plots that worked so well together. I am absolutely going to be following Katherine Whiteheart for more books. I am excited to see how this series unfolds.
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