The Splendor of Fire

The Hebridean Shield #2

by Ashley Worrell

Left without a voice after being lost at sea, and unable to communicate except with the man she calls Father, Moira Allen has spent her life running wild among the treetops on the Isle of Skye. Observing and sketching everything around her, and assisting Father with the care of “prestigious guests” inside the walls of Cràdh Prison, Moira’s untamed heart and sharp instincts have made her uniquely positioned to change the course of history.

Imprisoned by his brother Niall for disgracing his family and killing his sister Elspeth, Léo MacKinnon has known nothing but a life of loss. First the murder of his parents, then his abandonment in France by his brothers, his wife’s tragic death, and now his imprisonment and separation from his only child. Tragedies all spurred by Léo’s darkest and most painful secret. The secret that no one can ever know, yet it is the secret God will not let him forget.

As the Wolf and the MacKinnons tighten their hold on the Isle of Skye and the Kingdom of the Isles, Léo’s survival lays in the hands of a most unlikely champion—a mute and vibrant beauty who will slip into the heart of his captor, risking her safety, her virtue, and her life, all to ensure the freedom of the man she loves.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Christian

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Ashley Worrell is a repentant HR professional, thankful to be writing adventure stories instead of disciplinary notices. Since leaving the HR world in 2021, she has become a full-time writer and 2023 ACFW Genesis Contest Semi-Finalist. From this work, she has created the popular Hebridean Shield series.

Ashley lives with her family and beloved dog Baxter in upstate South Carolina. When she is not spending time in the medieval Scottish isles, she enjoys playing traditional Irish percussion on her bodhrán.

Reviews

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just WOW! I’m completely at a loss for words to describe the epic adventure that is this story. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and it completely exceeded my expectations. Ashley Worrell’s storytelling is so addictive and rich, and I got completely swept away in Leo and Moira/Aileen’s book.

I want to start by pointing out that you MUST READ The Radiance of the Moon before diving into this book. A Splendor of Fire picks up right where that book ended, and I don’t think this story would be as impactful without knowing what happened in Radiance.

I love that Ashley’s stories are about second chances; it’s one of my favorite tropes. Both Leo and Aileen have experienced so much loss in their lives. Finding each other is truly a turning point for both of them, but from the moment they meet, they are faced with adversity. I loved the development of their relationship. This is no walk in the park romance. These two are repeatedly thrown in the fire only to get stronger each time. They are tested individually and together. There are so many moments in this story when things seem so hopeless, but good always conquers the evil.

I know I’m being vague, but there is so much in this book that the reader needs to experience themselves. There are tender moments and then gut wrenching experiences that you can’t even imagine. These characters do what they have to do while keeping their integrity and staying true to themselves. There are old characters to love all over again. There are new characters introduced, too — some we love and some we hate. This book is so fast paced and full of action. Parts that make you want to scream and cry, but you gotta trust the process. AILEEN MACLEAN!!!! (IYKYK) Omg this made me cry and gave me the chills. I am absolutely living for this series, and I can’t wait to read The Speed of Lightning!

[Readingintheweehours · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to catch my breath!
Leo and Aileen’s story is intense. It is a journey of trusting God through the darkness and seemingly impossible circumstances. It is a reminder of the provision of God in unexpected ways. (If you’re familiar with Joseph in scripture, you’ll see some similarities in Leo’s story.) Top notch romance with crackling chemistry from the get go. A feisty and strong heroine. A protective and fierce hero. Found family in the best of ways.
I loved it and of course can’t wait for the next book!

[Hannah Barclay · Rating 5 out of 5]

again, veeery romantic! another exciting romance of the Scottish Isles, this time threaded with the biblical story of Joseph. very easy reading and hard to put down.
Content note: violence, mention and attempt SA

[Jamie’s Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five beautiful hearts! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ So well done.

The beginning of this reminded me so much of “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe. The tale centers around Leo and Moira who are a bit star-crossed. We do find out more about Hector and the Wolf in this second book.

The faith content was amazing and I love the way the author makes God’s voice come alive especially when talking to Leo. There is great use of the Psalms and a bit of a retelling of Joseph’s story from the Bible. One of my favorite things about this read — it was very atmospheric with weather, dreamscapes, and sea faring.

In addition, there was an edge of your seat suspenseful twist. I found this to be an emotional and gripping read. I could relate to that voice that tells you -“you’re being punished” and then I start to question God’s love for me. You know that feeling—oh, things aren’t going right then God must be mad at me. Which of course isn’t true! I loved the way the author handles this. Can’t wait for book three!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GOOD SEQUEL.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

(Though I don’t think you HAVE to read these in order, I would recommend it).

I find these books so intriguing. The stories pull you in with the intensity of the moment and the chaos of not knowing where things will go next. The need to know everyone makes it out alive and that the leads get their HEA. It’s easy to follow and read and highly engaging.

The instant love was a little meh to me. I thought things got off a little too quickly. There were some good gaps that helped but I think they argued about the same thing one too many times. I did love Leo and Moira though. They were both fantastic characters with a lot of strength and perseverance. The faith elements were woven in naturally and I look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:
- Christian historical romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, near death experiences, loss of life

[Jess Reads Fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead if you’ve not read the first book in the series. Read forward at your own risk.

Ashley Worrell’s second installment of the Hebridean Shield series, The Splendor of Fire, was simply amazing! 😍 The end of the first book had me in tears as we read of Léo sacrificing himself in order to get Hector and Cara to safety. Picking up the second novel, I was happily surprised to discover Léo is alive! 🙌🏻 The story was once again expertly crafted with real depth, character development, and a beautiful twisty plot, all wrapped in the grace and peace of God’s love.

The thing I love the most so far about Ashley Worrell’s book is how REAL the characters are. These are not perfect characters. There are multiple occasions you would find yourself rolling your eyes at their stubbornness or perhaps wanting to shake them for not seeing or noticing something that felt obvious. Perfect characters still make a fun story but imperfect characters make a DEEP story which I absolutely love! As we follow Moira Allen and Léo MacKinnon, they learn to navigate love between two truly flawed people and in need of the saving grace of God.

The adventure was pretty intense in this one! This story was inspired by the story of Joseph from the Bible. The plot moved fast and there always seemed to be something going on. Moira, nicknamed Birdy, is pretty acrobatic as she flies through trees, jumping from limb to limb and bounding and doing handsprings off of branches. Perhaps because I’m not a visual person by nature, there were a few scenes that were hard for me to picture as Ashley gave vivid detail of the movements the characters were doing. I’m also not a gymnast and perhaps that played into it - I was not familiar with the moves the character was making and therefore my brain could not comprehend or follow through with the description given. This does not take away from the overall story, however.

While insta love is not my favorite trope, I felt that Ashley did something with it that I’ve not read in most other books with this trope - she showed how complicated it can be! The struggles Léo and Moira went through together grew them both individually and together which was beautiful to watch unfold. Absolutely recommend everyone pick this up and read it. You’ll fall in love with these perfectly imperfect characters just like I have!

Bonus: It is available on Kindle Unlimited. 🥰

[momloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this more than 5 stars? So amazing! I loved everything about this books. The characters seemed real, the plot was addicting, the setting was historically accurate. I also loved the simarities between this book and the story of Joseph in the Bible. I can't wait to read the next book!

[Laura K · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When we think all is lost, God is working in the darkness.”

WOW. Ashley Worrell has done it again, writing a story that is deeply romantic and immensely edifying. This story is positively brimming with profound messages of faith, with themes reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph. The Lord is always with us, even in the deepest and darkest of valleys. We are never forgotten. It is during those times of waiting that He is truly refining us and preparing us for the fulfillment of His promises. In the author’s letter, Ashley makes this exhortation: “And so dear reader, don't be afraid of the fire. It burns, it hurts, but it refines. And through it all, God is with you in it.” So encouraging!

And then, there is the love story. Léo and Moira captured my heart completely, and I have a feeling they will stay with me for a long time. With her fiery, compassionate spirit and his protective, loyal heart, they are well-matched. She is the “fire” to his “pitch,” and their love burns bright! However, that is not to say they are without their struggles—not even close! They have many disagreements throughout the story that challenge their resolve to love one another. Nevertheless, their story is one of forgiveness and perseverance. As they learn to trust each other and the Lord’s plan, their love grows into something lasting.

While the love story is very beautiful, it is the camaraderie and friendships that truly drew me in. Moira is recruited into The Shield—an elite fighting force tasked with defending the land against The Wolf. Each member of the force has a unique skill. Though Moira is rendered mute after a tragic accident as a child, she possesses a special set of skills that make her a huge asset to the force. She is quickly accepted into their fellowship. The loyalty, protection, and respect that the men of the force show Moira is probably my favorite part of the story.

Though The Splendor of Fire could technically be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading The Radiance of the Moon before picking up this book. There is an element of “found family” in the story that is made even more tender if you have read the first book. Trust me, you will not want to miss this series.

[Shebb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This medieval series has become an obsession... 🫣😂

Wowzers. After being sucked into the first story in this series, I wasn't sure how many tricks the author still had to her sleeve.

She has many. 🤯

Absolutely LOVED Moira and Leo's Joseph-inspired story. Gosh, Ms Worrell set us up really well for this epic tale, after all we'd seen with Leo in the last book, not to mention realising the connection between Moira and the MacLeans. 🥹

I'm still processing this story, from the jump-off-the-pages characters to the edge-of-your-seat action. Just... so good.

What can I say about these two. Their resilience is next level. I loved their banter and arguments... sheesh, they butted heads so often! Thankfully, the miscommunication in this story was believable and not annoying. I also loved how much Ns Worrell made her leads suffer... so much evil to overcome!

Not really getting how I feel into words very well. It's the type of story where you lose your heart and want to stay forever. Faith-filled, adventurous, a little bloody and romantic... bravo.

Excited for the next book even though it's not in the world yet. 😭

[Ella Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading book 1 and loving it I immediately had to read book 2...and binged it in less than a day.

The Splendor of Fire started where book 1 left off, hit the ground running, and really never let up.

I loved Moira. The aspect of her being mute added really interesting layers to the character and the whole story. Her spunk and indomitable spirit made her so likable.

This book was grittier and harder to read in places than book one, but it still never lost the hopeful feel, God is always clearly with and for them and carrying them to complete His purposes in them. The author's humor lightens things throughout and keeps the book from becoming too dark or heavy.

There was a storyline that required (to me) a little suspension of disbelief involving Moira and a role she played, but I was happy the author didn't take it the level she could have. It would have really made the book much heavier and harder to enjoy if she had gone there.

This is now officially one of my favorite series, and I am impatiently waiting for book 3!

[Courtney Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I REALLY liked about the story: the complexity and setup of everything, especially with the established characters and tension of book 1. I liked the story world -- medieval Scottish Hebrides! bows and arrows and swords! castles, keeps, and sea caves!. I also appreciated the faith thread and inclusion of scripture, particularly Psalms that featured importantly in the lives of the main characters.

Things I didn't like so much: the arguing "banter" that was excessively hot then cold exchanged between the main romantic couple, along with certain circumstances they find themselves in, which ultimately discounts their loyalty and faithfulness with some things they permit. I also wasn't a fan of some of the modern language/expressions that felt anachronistic. The heroine, too, has an athletic acrobatic tendency which fits her character well, but is overdone in its "cartwheeling" drama in several scenes (to the point those scenes were more fitting for the fantasy genre than historical romance).

[Alyssa Shull · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a page turner just like the first book in the series. I loved that the characters from the first story where still in this story. I like that best in series instead of just leaving them behind. I got annoyed a couple times with Leo and Aileen’s communication, like just say yes to one another, the constant fighting bothered me, but I still liked their characters. The only reason I knocked off a star is because I would get lost sometimes with the writing style. It felt like chunks of action were left out or wrote in a way that didn’t make sense to me. I would find myself having to reread paragraphs and still had a hard time. It would end in one chapter right in a key part and just drop it in the next, I was lost so much. But maybe that’s just me. I still got pulled into the storyline and really enjoyed it.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have. Another favorite

When I read Hector's and Carra's story I thought it was to good to be true! I love midevil love stories but so many have magic, sex, and things I find objectionable as a Christian often I can skip over sex scenes but if there's dialog I miss it. 😔. But this book gave me the best of all worlds!
Book 2 was simply amazing Moira and leo were wonderful each in there own way all I can add is with God you will always find a way, I hope this author writes quickly.

[Megan Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a historical romance reader, you need to start this series. The immersive description of the setting is flawless without ever veering into flowery verbosity. The characters are fantastic; they have real flaws and fears. The love story is beautiful. While Book 1 (The Radiance of the Moon) might still be my favorite by a narrow margin, Splendor captivated me in that can-barely-focus-on-anything-else way that only the best books can do.

[Jodica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzers! Such an exciting, heartfelt, heart wrenching, hard, beautiful, story with all the feels. I was pulled into the story from the start and felt like I was right there with the characters, cheering them on, weeping with them, laughing with them, and walking with them. I was on the edge of my seat, and I had to hold my breath at times.
Definitely in my never give away pile, and read again and again!

[D.M. Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

This sequel was beautifully written with a strong current of faith that enriched the story. Passion, suspense, and poignancy hummed through the narrative, giving it an emotional impact not easily forgotten. Both main characters had unique traits that were endearing, charming, and frustrating-making their relationship relatable. I found myself immersed in the story, fully enjoying its rather involved plot. Definitely a must read if you like medieval romances.

[Lindsay Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

I liked the first book in the series better. I liked the Gospel presentation in this story, but I found a few parts dragged on and felt like the characters were circling the same issues over and over. A few scenes took me out of the time period as well. I’m still interested in reading the rest of the series.

Content: violence, kisses only.

[Daniellehullreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in The Hebridean Shield series is wonderful! Heroes are actually heroic and have upstanding character! They don't need to belittle women in order to make themselves feel better about themselves, either. The romance is swoony. The characters grow and mature. I can't wait for the rest of this series!

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the plot and story line itself but just cannot get over the Many red flags that Leo displayed over and over to Moira. Yes, he says sorry. Yes, he can catch her and wants to protect her and it works out in the end. But the amount of times the guy is an absolute jerk and jumps to every single conclusion made me endlessly groan.

[Rose Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don’t be afraid of the fire. It burns, it hurts, but it refines. And through it all, God is with you."

This was heavier than what I usually read, but I LOVE Ashley's writing, her ancient Scottish world and characters, and the way she weaves faith into each story.

Thank you Ashley for sharing God's love and constant care through this story. ❤

[Mary Lindsey Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Series!!!!

Book 2 was amazing! I can’t decide which I liked better … book 1 or 2! Ashley Worrell has done an incredible job. I can’t put her books down. The best part is how God is the center of the whole story. The story lines are unique and deeply moving!! I’m ready for book 3 now!!

[Heather McNichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one even more!

Book one was amazing but then book two was even better! I must admit, I haven't slept much in two days devouring these books! Looking forward to the next release!

[Amy Hairr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved Moira!! So brave and strong. There’s strong faith in both books which is exciting. I didn’t actually realize this also played on a biblical story until I read the author note. That’s what happens when you try to know as little as possible going into books. Very cool.

[Eva S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew, what an adventure! This is becoming a favorite series of mine! This story drew me in from the very first page and held me captive for the entire book! I loved all the God elements and the parallel parts to the story of Joseph! Can't wait for book 3!

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another captivating read by Worrell. Again we see a loose story of Joseph from scripture with dreams and evil brothers. The amount of suffering each character yet faced was heartbreaking but it never felt hopeless. I hope this author decides to write many more books- all of which I will be reading.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Ashley Worrell! I love how she intertwines biblical stories to create a new read. Also I can't get enough of any historical era Scotland based books so her's is a must read if you're also into that.

[Brealie Caridi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed, inspirational, and pure

Another beautiful story of humans struggling to be saints in the midst of everyday struggles and tragedies. Triumphing with the love of God, family, and each other.

[Katie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I love it as much as the first, maybe even more. What beautifully broken and realistic characters. What an exciting and engaging story.

[Carol Bennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these two books

These two stories are outstanding. I loved every part of them. Can’t wait to read the next installment! And the next …and the next.

[Sara A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story!

I loved the setting and language; the trust in the Lord throughout and psalm references! You won’t be sorry you read it!