Flames of Ascension

by L.A. Rain

A forgotten princess. A power that burns. A fate she never saw coming.

Catalina Dracoza has always been invisible. Born without magic in a kingdom where witches and wizards thrive, she’s spent her life as a servant, yearning for a place to call her own. But with no memory of her past and a growing darkness threatening her home, Catalina’s future seems as uncertain as ever.

Everything changes when a mysterious encounter in the woods leads her on a path to uncover a hidden truth: Catalina might be a witch after all. And she may possess a rare, powerful magic that could be the key to stopping the encroaching darkness.

Thrust into a world that was always out of reach, Catalina embarks on a journey of self-discovery, joining forces with unlikely allies who help her unlock the power burning inside her. As she races to master her magic, she uncovers secrets about her past—and finds herself drawn into a romance she never saw coming.

But time is running out. As the darkness spreads, Catalina must decide whether she can rise to the challenge and save the realms or risk losing everything and everyone she’s come to love.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

L.A. Rain is a mom, wife, and lifelong lover of writing. Her passion for storytelling began in childhood where she filled notebooks about magic.

Now, she writes about faraway lands and immortal creatures, leaving a little room for romance and happy endings. When she’s not working or chasing after little feet, you’ll likely find her out on the trails or cuddled up in a corner of a local coffee shop.

CONNECT WITH L.A. Rain:

https://larainbooks.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authorlarain/

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlarain

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Reviews

[Abigail Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨
Flames of Ascension by @authorlarain

4 ⭐️ 0 🌶️

Thank you so much to @authorlarain for the opportunity to both beta and ARC read this for you! You have an incredible story here, and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world!

From the moments I started this book, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! Flames of Ascension is a beautifully written cozy-fantasy with a splash of romance. The world building is well done, without overwhelming the reader with information - very similar to how the FMC views the world around her as well.

Catalina, my girl, is an orphan born without magic (or so she thinks 👀) in a kingdom full of witches and wizards. She has longed her whole life for a place to belong, and it isn’t until she is torn from the only world she knows that she finally finds her home. Catalina has to relearn everything she’s ever known, and she takes it in stride, along with her newfound powers.

Liam, Captain of the Queen’s Guard and Catalina’s Protector, has lived his very long life in service of the country’s king and queen. When they are murdered and their daughter disappears, he despairs and goes on a hunting spree to try to find her. It isn’t until he finally does that he is finally able to breathe again. Liam is protective and he loves with a quiet love, and I loved getting to see his perspective in a few chapters - it really makes you love him more.

Flames of Ascension is out on March 25th! It will be available on KU and paperback - I highly recommend you go check it out!

[Paige Janka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately hooked by this cozy fantasy world and thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. It was beautifully written and the world building was done well, as the reader was slowly introduced to all kinds of details about the kingdom of Elnethyr. I was really into the magic system and how many different types of magic and creatures were included in this world - very fun and refreshing!

[Rachel Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received the ARC of this book but it took me a. It longer to get through in between my other books. I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a bit of Shadow and Bones if you’ve read that book. The concept of the dark veil was similar to but this book had much more depth to the world and characters! I am very excited for the next book now!

[V Brown LetsBeRealBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flames of Ascension by L.A Rain is book 1 of The Blood of Fate and Fire Series, an inspiring tale that will ignite your passion. This book tells the story of Catalina Dracoza, a courageous girl who dares to dream of a better life in a world where magical power is the ultimate currency. Born without magical abilities, Catalina is deemed a nullborn, forced to serve the witches and wizards who wield power. Having witnessed her parents' brutal murder as a child, she was left to fend for herself in a alley. Yet, she finds solace in her friendship with Tristan, who has discovered his own magical prowess. Despite her hatred for the life she's been dealt, Catalina yearns to break free from the shackles of her mundane existence. With every passing day, she feels her spirit waning, and she knows she must make a choice: risk everything to forge a new path or succumb to the suffocating reality. Embark on this transformative journey with Catalina, and discover the power of resilience and determination. I wholeheartedly believe you'll be inspired by this incredible book, and I highly recommend it.

Witches, wizards, Fae, and Dragons. You can't go wrong!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for selecting me to be one of your ARC readers!! I want to start by saying I really enjoyed this book, from the slow burn romance to Catalina being a bad ass FMC. The world building was done really well and allows for the reader to get a full understanding of what is going on in Elnethyr, instead of just being dumped into the middle of it. This book has strong FMC's, rebellion, witches, vampires, plot twists, magic, and secrets. Im excited to see where book 2 is headed, congratulations on writing your first novel!

[Rachel]

This was a good first book in what will be a great series! I cannot wait to dive into the next one to see what’s next for Catalina Dracoza !

Read for:
✨instant attraction but slow-burn love
✨rebellion against tyranny & ethn!c cleansing
✨secrets and lore and mysterious pasts
✨strong female lead
✨found family
✨potential age-gap romance
✨ closed-door romance
✨witches, wizards, vampires, elves, and more
✨an ending with major plot twists

This series is going to be EPIC.

[Laura W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised. The story had me on the edge of my seat from the start. I loved Cat as our FMC. Her struggles with being labeled a Nullborn and her journey to figure out who she really is kept me fully invested. The pacing slowed a bit in the middle, but it picked right back up in the second half. If you enjoy fae, witches, vampires, and all kinds of magical creatures, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first pages, I was completely immersed! If it weren't for quite a violent world, I want to live there. Magic is everywhere, and Cat...ooof, she is AMAZING.

I loved watching cat grow into her own power.

Don't even get me started on LIAM!!! He is my favorite. Truly all the characters were amazing (except for Tristian. Him and I are gonna fight)

I can't wait to see more!!!

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved! I’m already going to need book two because I need to know what happens!

[Marilyn Formosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great world and character building. Fabulous story telling.