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This Delicate Flame: A Cozy Sapphic Romantasy
"The day the assassin came to Rylla's door, she sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed her healing kit."
Rylla Stirkiv likes her life. She likes her little house on the outskirts of a quiet village. She likes the magical forest where any herb she could want grows, and where magic from the Rend splitting her planet in two turns the leaves rainbow colors.
She does not like the hardened assassin that arrives bleeding on her doorstep.
Tarinne is the antithesis of Rylla. She's brash, headstrong, and abrasive. Her skin is marked with more scars than Rylla has ever seen in her life. What's more, she kills people, while Rylla is sworn to do the opposite. But as she nurses Tarinne back to health, the two women discover they have more in common than they thought, and that maybe, just maybe, Tarinne likes the slower life that Rylla leads.
It's too bad the king Tarinne is sworn to has other ideas...
This Delicate Flame is the first book in the Rendworld Trilogy, a new sapphic romantasy by Avery Carter.
Rylla Stirkiv likes her life. She likes her little house on the outskirts of a quiet village. She likes the magical forest where any herb she could want grows, and where magic from the Rend splitting her planet in two turns the leaves rainbow colors.
She does not like the hardened assassin that arrives bleeding on her doorstep.
Tarinne is the antithesis of Rylla. She's brash, headstrong, and abrasive. Her skin is marked with more scars than Rylla has ever seen in her life. What's more, she kills people, while Rylla is sworn to do the opposite. But as she nurses Tarinne back to health, the two women discover they have more in common than they thought, and that maybe, just maybe, Tarinne likes the slower life that Rylla leads.
It's too bad the king Tarinne is sworn to has other ideas...
This Delicate Flame is the first book in the Rendworld Trilogy, a new sapphic romantasy by Avery Carter.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2025
7 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Avery Carter
12 books26 followersAvery Carter is an English teacher and walking art museum, covered in tattoos, ocean blue hair tied out of their face, and square, purple glasses. They proudly proclaim that they are the "coolest person you know" to their students, and spend each day trying to live up to that title. They are a nonbinary queer author living in South Korea with their wife and two dogs. They spend their days writing new stories, and teaching their students to love words as much as they do.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 26, 2025
This Delicate Flame by Avery Carter is described as a cozy sapphic romantasy, and I think that fits perfectly. Carter creates a cozy atmosphere that gives the story a soft, dream-like feeling. This character-driven narrative unfolds at a slow pace, allowing us to spend time getting to know the main characters as they grow closer. I really enjoyed the two main characters for their personalities and interactions. They are intelligent, strong, vulnerable, and sweet together. I like their cute banter and gentleness. They balance one another as the healer provides more than just physical healing and the assassin gives strong but gentle support. The grumpy/grumpy pairing is a nice change for me, as I haven't read one of those before. Kudos for a neurodivergent main character, MCs over 30, and explicit consent.
The stakes are meant to be high, but I still feel that it is a low-angst, easy read with some lovely, sweet, and spicy scenes.
The writing style is effective, though some of the descriptive choices were unexpected.
I like the title. It seems to fit what is growing between Tarinne and Rylla.
This is the first in a trilogy and the ending is not the end. It isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it also doesn't wrap up. I enjoyed Tarinne and Rylla's story, but I am not convinced it needs to be a trilogy. I will read the follow-ups, as I am curious to see where the story will go. I am giving it a 3.5 rounded up.
#assassin #healer #romantasy #trilogy #cozy #neurodivergent #MCsOver30 #consentissexy #spicy #sweet #grumpy/grumpy #characterdriven #magic #forcedproximity #onlyonebed
I received this free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
The stakes are meant to be high, but I still feel that it is a low-angst, easy read with some lovely, sweet, and spicy scenes.
The writing style is effective, though some of the descriptive choices were unexpected.
I like the title. It seems to fit what is growing between Tarinne and Rylla.
This is the first in a trilogy and the ending is not the end. It isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it also doesn't wrap up. I enjoyed Tarinne and Rylla's story, but I am not convinced it needs to be a trilogy. I will read the follow-ups, as I am curious to see where the story will go. I am giving it a 3.5 rounded up.
#assassin #healer #romantasy #trilogy #cozy #neurodivergent #MCsOver30 #consentissexy #spicy #sweet #grumpy/grumpy #characterdriven #magic #forcedproximity #onlyonebed
I received this free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
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March 27, 2025Disclaimer: ARC review.
Lovely romantasy with touching characters and a world that I just really want to know more about.
Rylla and Tarinne are so similar and yet so different at the same time. I love their grumpy-grumpy dynamic and the way they seem to slowly bring each other out of their shell.
I confess despite being autistic myself, I struggled at times with Rylla being so prickly at the tiniest sign of friendliness from her patients/friends. I do feel like the autism rep with her (as well as what I interpreted as chronic illness rep) was handled with a lot of care and very solid. Also, the dynamic of the healer being arguably a grumpier character than the actual assassin was such fun and against stereotypes that I loved it nonetheless. :-D
Edit: after some soul searching, I came back to this review with a realisation that in fact, Rylla's character got under my skin at the beginning because I'm more similar to her than I felt comfortable admitting. It might not be the same people or the same situations that activates us, but her responses are very similar to mine. So yeah, I guess I can vouch for the autistic rep? XD
I love a romantasy with solid worldbuilding and high stakes, and this one really didn't disappoint in that sense. I feel like the plot and the world have so much more in store, can't wait for the rest of the series!
Lovely romantasy with touching characters and a world that I just really want to know more about.
Rylla and Tarinne are so similar and yet so different at the same time. I love their grumpy-grumpy dynamic and the way they seem to slowly bring each other out of their shell.
I confess despite being autistic myself, I struggled at times with Rylla being so prickly at the tiniest sign of friendliness from her patients/friends. I do feel like the autism rep with her (as well as what I interpreted as chronic illness rep) was handled with a lot of care and very solid. Also, the dynamic of the healer being arguably a grumpier character than the actual assassin was such fun and against stereotypes that I loved it nonetheless. :-D
Edit: after some soul searching, I came back to this review with a realisation that in fact, Rylla's character got under my skin at the beginning because I'm more similar to her than I felt comfortable admitting. It might not be the same people or the same situations that activates us, but her responses are very similar to mine. So yeah, I guess I can vouch for the autistic rep? XD
I love a romantasy with solid worldbuilding and high stakes, and this one really didn't disappoint in that sense. I feel like the plot and the world have so much more in store, can't wait for the rest of the series!
March 23, 2025
✨ First in a Trilogy
🌿 Dual POV
✨ Healer x Assassin
🌿 Slowburn
✨ Unique Worldbuilding
🌿 Plant Healing
✨ Autistic FMC
>Micro-Tropes after review
>Content Warnings at the bottom
This Delicate Flame by Avery Carter starts quickly with the reader jumping right into the story. The writing fits perfectly with world building and magical setting. The world building is woven into the story with each new piece of information fitting in naturally. Because of this, the story feels front and center without the lore taking over (despite there being plenty built within each chapter). This lends itself to the cozier feel of the novel versus a high fantasy novel. That being said, there are still plenty of high stakes–and perhaps the highest of all.
The story is told in third person with a dual POV; however, the first third is told exclusively from Rylla’s POV. Rylla has been mostly alone for, well, a while. Other than her scheduled trips into town to treat individuals as a healer, she mainly keeps to herself. The depiction of Rylla being autistic felt natural without being a caricature or falling into stereotypes. As I am autistic myself, I found I could relate a lot to her, and I loved to see the seemingly well thought out representation. Tarinne on the other hand? Avery absolutely gave the lesbians what they want a strong–but complex–FMC. It took a bit longer to see beneath Tarinne’s surface, but it was such a cathartic process. Seeing her growth directly connected to Rylla’s interactions with her was beautiful and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
The pacing and world building was perfection. The writing felt very intentional without drawing scenes out unnecessarily or cutting them too short. I never found myself wanting things to move along faster/get to the point quicker nor did I feel like I needed more than what was given. (Granted I am actually obsessed with Rylla and Tarinne and will latch onto any scrap I can.) The world building felt unique without being overly complex (I’ve seen this to a detriment at times). I suspect the next books in the trilogy will build upon what we’ve learned so far. I appreciated that the setting appears to be queer-normative (there is a nonbinary side character and no one bats an eye at seeing two women kiss). The ending was rounded out enough to be satisfying, yet there were questions left unanswered to set up for the rest of the series.
Ultimately, This Delicate Flame is about love and coming to terms with what we really want out of life. I eagerly await the next installments in the series–which are both expected to be released later this year.
Thank you to the author, Avery Carter, for providing me with an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily with my honest opinion.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Micro-tropes:
✨ Scar Kissing
🌿 Licking Jam Off Finger
✨ “Clothes. Off. Now”
🌿 “You’re doing so well for me.”
✨ “Devour me.”
🌿 “Is this all for me?”
✨ “You were amazing.”
🌿 “What if someone sees?”
Content Warnings:
(this list may not be complete)
violence, surgery, de*th, self harm (past), alcohol, slavery, s*xually explicit content
🌿 Dual POV
✨ Healer x Assassin
🌿 Slowburn
✨ Unique Worldbuilding
🌿 Plant Healing
✨ Autistic FMC
>Micro-Tropes after review
>Content Warnings at the bottom
This Delicate Flame by Avery Carter starts quickly with the reader jumping right into the story. The writing fits perfectly with world building and magical setting. The world building is woven into the story with each new piece of information fitting in naturally. Because of this, the story feels front and center without the lore taking over (despite there being plenty built within each chapter). This lends itself to the cozier feel of the novel versus a high fantasy novel. That being said, there are still plenty of high stakes–and perhaps the highest of all.
The story is told in third person with a dual POV; however, the first third is told exclusively from Rylla’s POV. Rylla has been mostly alone for, well, a while. Other than her scheduled trips into town to treat individuals as a healer, she mainly keeps to herself. The depiction of Rylla being autistic felt natural without being a caricature or falling into stereotypes. As I am autistic myself, I found I could relate a lot to her, and I loved to see the seemingly well thought out representation. Tarinne on the other hand? Avery absolutely gave the lesbians what they want a strong–but complex–FMC. It took a bit longer to see beneath Tarinne’s surface, but it was such a cathartic process. Seeing her growth directly connected to Rylla’s interactions with her was beautiful and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
The pacing and world building was perfection. The writing felt very intentional without drawing scenes out unnecessarily or cutting them too short. I never found myself wanting things to move along faster/get to the point quicker nor did I feel like I needed more than what was given. (Granted I am actually obsessed with Rylla and Tarinne and will latch onto any scrap I can.) The world building felt unique without being overly complex (I’ve seen this to a detriment at times). I suspect the next books in the trilogy will build upon what we’ve learned so far. I appreciated that the setting appears to be queer-normative (there is a nonbinary side character and no one bats an eye at seeing two women kiss). The ending was rounded out enough to be satisfying, yet there were questions left unanswered to set up for the rest of the series.
Ultimately, This Delicate Flame is about love and coming to terms with what we really want out of life. I eagerly await the next installments in the series–which are both expected to be released later this year.
Thank you to the author, Avery Carter, for providing me with an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily with my honest opinion.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Micro-tropes:
✨ Scar Kissing
🌿 Licking Jam Off Finger
✨ “Clothes. Off. Now”
🌿 “You’re doing so well for me.”
✨ “Devour me.”
🌿 “Is this all for me?”
✨ “You were amazing.”
🌿 “What if someone sees?”
Content Warnings:
(this list may not be complete)
violence, surgery, de*th, self harm (past), alcohol, slavery, s*xually explicit content
March 25, 2025
This Delicate Flame is a sweet and cozy sapphic romantasy with amazing lived-experience autism representation and is book one in the Rendworld Trilogy. The writing style is immersive and pulled me in right away with its unique world building and beautiful imagery.
The story takes place in a small bustling fantasy village with a slow burn sapphic romance between an assassin & her healer. I enjoyed following along with Rylla on her adventures with Tarinne and watching their romance arc slowly develop. They compliment each other so well even though they are opposites. Their fun and snarky banter kept me smiling, especially our FMC Rylla who is often honest, blunt and unfiltered in the most refreshing way.
I loved Rylla! I found her easy to connect with and relatable. She finds comfort in her routines of healing the sick and injured; tending to her garden; and studying the medicinal plants and herbs around her. She loves her quiet and peaceful life away from the crowded village. Her knowledge of botany and the way she sees the world around her added a wonderful layer of depth to the story.
Tarrine also naturally picks up on and understands Rylla, which really melted my heart. Rylla is autistic, and the autism rep is so well done—presented in a “show, don’t tell” kind of way. Rylla’s innkeeper friend in town, Nairra, also completely melted my heart. She is such a good friend to Rylla and fully understands and supports her sensory and social needs.
I can’t wait to learn more about the Rend and Renddwellers. I definitely recommend this one, and am looking forward to reading the next installment! Thank you so much to Avery Carter for this eARC and the opportunity to be on your ARC reader team!
The story takes place in a small bustling fantasy village with a slow burn sapphic romance between an assassin & her healer. I enjoyed following along with Rylla on her adventures with Tarinne and watching their romance arc slowly develop. They compliment each other so well even though they are opposites. Their fun and snarky banter kept me smiling, especially our FMC Rylla who is often honest, blunt and unfiltered in the most refreshing way.
I loved Rylla! I found her easy to connect with and relatable. She finds comfort in her routines of healing the sick and injured; tending to her garden; and studying the medicinal plants and herbs around her. She loves her quiet and peaceful life away from the crowded village. Her knowledge of botany and the way she sees the world around her added a wonderful layer of depth to the story.
Tarrine also naturally picks up on and understands Rylla, which really melted my heart. Rylla is autistic, and the autism rep is so well done—presented in a “show, don’t tell” kind of way. Rylla’s innkeeper friend in town, Nairra, also completely melted my heart. She is such a good friend to Rylla and fully understands and supports her sensory and social needs.
I can’t wait to learn more about the Rend and Renddwellers. I definitely recommend this one, and am looking forward to reading the next installment! Thank you so much to Avery Carter for this eARC and the opportunity to be on your ARC reader team!
March 30, 2025
This is my third Avery Carter novel, and it's my favourite by far. If you're a fan of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic, and Legends and Lattes, this is another cozy book to add to your TBR. I really enjoyed the characters and the world. I'm looking forward to returning with book two!
July 23, 2025
A beautiful spark
Avery Carter's THIS DELICATE FLAME is an absolute gem, a five-star cozy sapphic romantasy that glows with charm and passion! From the moment you meet Rylla and Tarinne, you're hooked. Their chemistry is a perfectly well-balanced pool of pure magic, with a delightful (and very welcome!) lot of spice that truly ignites the pages. I adore the authentic LGBTQ+ background woven seamlessly into the narrative, making their romance feel incredibly real and resonant.
The world-building is enchanting, enhanced by the author's wonderful inclusion of sketches of each plant Rylla encounters in the forest – such a unique and immersive touch! And Tarinne's stubborn attitude? Simply the best, adding so much personality and fun to their dynamic. This book is a warm spicy embrace of fantasy and romance, and I can't wait to dive into Book 2 to continue this captivating journey! Highly recommended!
Avery Carter's THIS DELICATE FLAME is an absolute gem, a five-star cozy sapphic romantasy that glows with charm and passion! From the moment you meet Rylla and Tarinne, you're hooked. Their chemistry is a perfectly well-balanced pool of pure magic, with a delightful (and very welcome!) lot of spice that truly ignites the pages. I adore the authentic LGBTQ+ background woven seamlessly into the narrative, making their romance feel incredibly real and resonant.
The world-building is enchanting, enhanced by the author's wonderful inclusion of sketches of each plant Rylla encounters in the forest – such a unique and immersive touch! And Tarinne's stubborn attitude? Simply the best, adding so much personality and fun to their dynamic. This book is a warm spicy embrace of fantasy and romance, and I can't wait to dive into Book 2 to continue this captivating journey! Highly recommended!
May 4, 2025
What would you do if someone was slamming their fists on your door, and when you open it- they're demanding you heal them?? I'd probably be a bit pissy myself.
Rylla is a healer, and loner. She lives in a modest community, whom takes care of each other...certainly not a place for random tourists and definitely not for strangers to be banging on your door. But she's not in the business of turning away someone who needs help, and this one is bleeding all over her doorstep.
Warnings:
This story is really just syrupy sweet. I'm always a sucker for fantasy so I really want to thank Avery Carter and her team for sending me the arc. I would describe this book as a light read with a heavier story. The book is about 100 pages, but it's all dedicated to the blossoming of our two main characters. If you enjoy hurt/comfort the way I do, This Delicate Flame is a delicious treat.
Rylla is the local reserved local healer for her small village. She's used to her life, and her comforts...she's been on her own for a long time. So when Tarinne barges in and shakes things up she can't help but feel intrigued by her. Intrigue grows into interest, and as she forces Tarinne to slow down and heal, Rylla gets the opportunity to show her all the beauty just a few steps outside. Tarinne, having been used to her life on the go, devoid of comfort, really unfurls under Rylla's gentle care. Their relationship blossoming is a sweet fairttale in the face of a darker reality. There's more to their story, but we won't get it until the sequel finally drops!
Overall, I really enjoyed This Delicate Flame, in the indulgent way one enjoys a romance written just for them.
Rylla is a healer, and loner. She lives in a modest community, whom takes care of each other...certainly not a place for random tourists and definitely not for strangers to be banging on your door. But she's not in the business of turning away someone who needs help, and this one is bleeding all over her doorstep.
Warnings:
This story is really just syrupy sweet. I'm always a sucker for fantasy so I really want to thank Avery Carter and her team for sending me the arc. I would describe this book as a light read with a heavier story. The book is about 100 pages, but it's all dedicated to the blossoming of our two main characters. If you enjoy hurt/comfort the way I do, This Delicate Flame is a delicious treat.
Rylla is the local reserved local healer for her small village. She's used to her life, and her comforts...she's been on her own for a long time. So when Tarinne barges in and shakes things up she can't help but feel intrigued by her. Intrigue grows into interest, and as she forces Tarinne to slow down and heal, Rylla gets the opportunity to show her all the beauty just a few steps outside. Tarinne, having been used to her life on the go, devoid of comfort, really unfurls under Rylla's gentle care. Their relationship blossoming is a sweet fairttale in the face of a darker reality. There's more to their story, but we won't get it until the sequel finally drops!
Overall, I really enjoyed This Delicate Flame, in the indulgent way one enjoys a romance written just for them.
March 16, 2025
Disclaimer: ARC review. A delightful, cozy, queer story for anyone who has ever wanted to u-haul your adorable good-witch girlfriend.
This Delicate Flame was a fun and cozy-feeling story that centers around a healer from a small village named Rylla, whose world is turned upside down when an injured assassin named Tarinne shows up on her doorstep.
The story is much more character driven than plot driven, and there are a couple of beats where (IMO) the world-building/plot/magic system could have used some more attention. The romance is the main focus of the story, and so is light on supporting characters and plot. The characters well-developed, though not particularly challenged in the story. It delivered the golden retriever girlfriend/black cat girlfriend archetypes in a fun fantasy setting, though, and was very cute!
The book felt like a slow burn until ~80% of the way through the book, at which point the romance and spice seems to come out of nowhere. And once it arrives, it’s there to stay, with the last three chapters containing more spice by volume than the rest of the book. It is, overall, well-written though!
I’d recommend this one for anyone looking for a lighter fantasy romp with some grumpy sunshine queer characters.
This Delicate Flame was a fun and cozy-feeling story that centers around a healer from a small village named Rylla, whose world is turned upside down when an injured assassin named Tarinne shows up on her doorstep.
The story is much more character driven than plot driven, and there are a couple of beats where (IMO) the world-building/plot/magic system could have used some more attention. The romance is the main focus of the story, and so is light on supporting characters and plot. The characters well-developed, though not particularly challenged in the story. It delivered the golden retriever girlfriend/black cat girlfriend archetypes in a fun fantasy setting, though, and was very cute!
The book felt like a slow burn until ~80% of the way through the book, at which point the romance and spice seems to come out of nowhere. And once it arrives, it’s there to stay, with the last three chapters containing more spice by volume than the rest of the book. It is, overall, well-written though!
I’d recommend this one for anyone looking for a lighter fantasy romp with some grumpy sunshine queer characters.
April 5, 2025
I loved this book so much. The world is unique and colorful (figuratively and literally). The story is sweet and cozy and hit me way harder than I was expecting. I came for the cozy vibes and romance, and fell in love with the way Avery writes, and especially with Rylla (one of our MCs). She’s a healer and likes to help people, but she also prefers solitude, doesn’t like being touched, and doesn’t feel emotions like ‘normal’ people do. I identify with Rylla so much, and that’s never really happened to me before. It’s so nice to feel seen and represented.
I think the pacing of the story is perfect. We get to see Tarinne and Rylla’s relationship develop over time and finally blossom… just in time for Tarinne’s king to call her back home. I’m excited to see how they overcome this obstacle, and also to learn more about Tarinne and the Rend. I will be anxiously awaiting book two!
I think the pacing of the story is perfect. We get to see Tarinne and Rylla’s relationship develop over time and finally blossom… just in time for Tarinne’s king to call her back home. I’m excited to see how they overcome this obstacle, and also to learn more about Tarinne and the Rend. I will be anxiously awaiting book two!
September 3, 2025
This was an absolute delight to read! I adore the characters, and their story. The author has done such a wonderful job bringing these characters and their romance to life. The romance is a beautiful slow burn, but it’s not just that that keeps you reading. There are underlying mysteries ant play, and secrets that both characters hold close to their chests.
The dual point of views add to the layers within this story. Both POV voices are uniqu, and have their own way of sharing the narrative.
I am looking forward to reading book two!
The dual point of views add to the layers within this story. Both POV voices are uniqu, and have their own way of sharing the narrative.
I am looking forward to reading book two!
December 20, 2025
I Genuinely Giggled and Kicked My Feet
This Delicate Flame was written with masterful care. Rylla and Tarinne were both deep characters who felt authentic and individual. Each of them is interesting on their own, and the romance is so effective because they compliment each other so well. The tension from their slow building romance had me giggling like a school girl and sarcastic, punchy humor had me cackling like a witch. The story was a great balance between cozy and critical, which kept me engaged until the very last page. I can’t wait to dive into book two!
This Delicate Flame was written with masterful care. Rylla and Tarinne were both deep characters who felt authentic and individual. Each of them is interesting on their own, and the romance is so effective because they compliment each other so well. The tension from their slow building romance had me giggling like a school girl and sarcastic, punchy humor had me cackling like a witch. The story was a great balance between cozy and critical, which kept me engaged until the very last page. I can’t wait to dive into book two!
March 25, 2025
Such a cute sapphic romantasy. I loved the connection between the 2 FMC’s and how even though they seemed different, they were more alike than they realised. A cute read for anyone who loves the tropes: only one bed, touch her and die and grumpy x grumpier.
March 24, 2025
4,75 ⭐
This was such a heartwarming read. The characters and their interactions were believable and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Can't wait for book two!
This was such a heartwarming read. The characters and their interactions were believable and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Can't wait for book two!
June 12, 2025
Amazing and tbh a damn good portrayal of a neurodivergent person!
November 30, 2025
Cute book, ended on a cliffhanger. I did get bored at times with the slow, slow pace but the two FMC are cute. It's femme for femme. Not my usual cup of tea, but enjoyed it.
March 18, 2025
Avery Carter is able to create a full and compelling story in a fraction of the time of other similar books. If you need a short, refreshing, cozy fantasy, this is the series for you. The opposites attract romance between the protagonists is so fun and heartwarming. I can’t wait to continue this series!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews