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Tempting Thieves
To Sway a Flame
A common thief. The kingdom’s protector. And the stone that could damn them all.
Tasked with stealing a powerful artifact from the formidable archduke of Kordouva, Adelaide is forced to balance her conscience against her need for survival. When she’s threatened by the Master of Thieves herself, Adelaide swallows her guilt and focuses on her mission, desperate to provide the only medication that can keep her mother alive. But can she weave a lie careful enough to keep her safe yet convincing enough to get close to the archduke to steal the Eye of Behelwer?
Archduke Gavin Hughes does not know the luxury of rest. The sworn protector of Kordouva and closest advisor to the king, Gavin must now safeguard the most dangerous artifact of the Eye of Behelwer. With his investigation into the years-long string of thefts stalled, he devises a plan to draw the thief out of hiding—after all, what better way to catch a thief than to become their target?
Thrust into each other’s lives, Adelaide and Gavin soon realize neither is at all who they seemed. As they grow closer, so too does the threat of the Eye falling into the wrong hands. When Mistress Scrabs and her powerful new alliance threatens more than Adelaide’s family, can the pair come together in time to save Kordouva or will Penumbra’s Army cast a shadow over the country once more?
To Sway a Flame is Book Seven in the Tempting Thieves Collection.
Tempting Thieves is a multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape.
Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry. Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.
Tasked with stealing a powerful artifact from the formidable archduke of Kordouva, Adelaide is forced to balance her conscience against her need for survival. When she’s threatened by the Master of Thieves herself, Adelaide swallows her guilt and focuses on her mission, desperate to provide the only medication that can keep her mother alive. But can she weave a lie careful enough to keep her safe yet convincing enough to get close to the archduke to steal the Eye of Behelwer?
Archduke Gavin Hughes does not know the luxury of rest. The sworn protector of Kordouva and closest advisor to the king, Gavin must now safeguard the most dangerous artifact of the Eye of Behelwer. With his investigation into the years-long string of thefts stalled, he devises a plan to draw the thief out of hiding—after all, what better way to catch a thief than to become their target?
Thrust into each other’s lives, Adelaide and Gavin soon realize neither is at all who they seemed. As they grow closer, so too does the threat of the Eye falling into the wrong hands. When Mistress Scrabs and her powerful new alliance threatens more than Adelaide’s family, can the pair come together in time to save Kordouva or will Penumbra’s Army cast a shadow over the country once more?
To Sway a Flame is Book Seven in the Tempting Thieves Collection.
Tempting Thieves is a multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape.
Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry. Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
About the author
Brianna R. Shaffery
5 books14 followersBrianna R. Shaffery is a speculative fiction author known for her award-winning young adult fantasy trilogy, the Heirs of Tenebris. Always looking toward her next project, Brianna has also written several novellas that can be read on her website, BRSwrites.com.
Aside from her love of literature, Brianna can often be found listening to music while engaged in some kind of craft or whipping up one of her favorite desserts.
Follow along on her journey by following Brianna on social media or by signing up for her newsletter at BRSwrites.com/newsletter, which includes exclusive insights, writing updates, and bonus content from her books.
Aside from her love of literature, Brianna can often be found listening to music while engaged in some kind of craft or whipping up one of her favorite desserts.
Follow along on her journey by following Brianna on social media or by signing up for her newsletter at BRSwrites.com/newsletter, which includes exclusive insights, writing updates, and bonus content from her books.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 6, 2025
I’m so very happy I picked this up when I was wandering around Peddler’s Village. This was such a fun quick read and definitely gave the promised vibe of a 90’s Barbie movie.
June 4, 2025
To Sway A Flame is a captivating standalone cozy romantasy with deception, forbidden romance, high-stakes intrigue, and perfectly written main characters. It follows a common thief and a royal protector who find themselves at the center of a plot that is far bigger than any of them could imagine 👀 Brianna delivers the perfect slow-burn romantasy that's rich in tension and brimming with secrets, with two main leads that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more of their story.
First of all, thank you so much to the author for personally sending me a copy of this book! I'm so beyond grateful and I'm so happy because I knew I would love this book...and I did!! I enjoyed and savoured every moment!
I loved Adelaide, the female main character! She is the sweetest female lead anyone could ask for. Her character is wonderfull complex, as she is fiercely loyal but stuck in fulfulling a mission that could lead to her demise. Nevertheless, she is determined to risk everything to keep her mother alive. Her internal conflict between guilt and survival added a lot of depth to her character, and left you feeling emotionally attached. Meanwhile, Archduke Gavin Hughes, our male main character, is honourable but weighed down by duty and responsibility. I love a story where the emotions are strong and the tensions are high!
Seeing these two begin to form feelings for each other was the sweetest, especially with all the secrets - one trying to deceive, the other trying to catch the thief. It was a perfect mix of suspicion and chemistry that had me full immersed in the story. I also LOVED the dual POV as it added even more depth and seeing both of their feelings and inner conflicts was so engaging 🤭
I loved Brianna's writing and I think she was able to perfectly put together a short story that has everything you could possibly need to be added to your favourites shelf! I'm really looking forward to reading more of her books after this one, and definitely excited for her future works!
Overal, a 4.5/5 star read for me, with plenty of wholesome moments and cozy feels that will warm your heart, whilst also having the perfect touch of high stakes and suspense! This is a story that’s completely and undeniable worth the time and the warm feelings it’ll give you, so I highly recommend reading it 🫶
First of all, thank you so much to the author for personally sending me a copy of this book! I'm so beyond grateful and I'm so happy because I knew I would love this book...and I did!! I enjoyed and savoured every moment!
I loved Adelaide, the female main character! She is the sweetest female lead anyone could ask for. Her character is wonderfull complex, as she is fiercely loyal but stuck in fulfulling a mission that could lead to her demise. Nevertheless, she is determined to risk everything to keep her mother alive. Her internal conflict between guilt and survival added a lot of depth to her character, and left you feeling emotionally attached. Meanwhile, Archduke Gavin Hughes, our male main character, is honourable but weighed down by duty and responsibility. I love a story where the emotions are strong and the tensions are high!
Seeing these two begin to form feelings for each other was the sweetest, especially with all the secrets - one trying to deceive, the other trying to catch the thief. It was a perfect mix of suspicion and chemistry that had me full immersed in the story. I also LOVED the dual POV as it added even more depth and seeing both of their feelings and inner conflicts was so engaging 🤭
I loved Brianna's writing and I think she was able to perfectly put together a short story that has everything you could possibly need to be added to your favourites shelf! I'm really looking forward to reading more of her books after this one, and definitely excited for her future works!
Overal, a 4.5/5 star read for me, with plenty of wholesome moments and cozy feels that will warm your heart, whilst also having the perfect touch of high stakes and suspense! This is a story that’s completely and undeniable worth the time and the warm feelings it’ll give you, so I highly recommend reading it 🫶
August 21, 2025
So my big issue is an ethical one, which I'll get into later. I wish the author hadn't thrown in this ethical dimension, because for me, it's not dealt with in a very satisfying way. Spoilers ahead...
The positives: the magic system is cool and intriguing, but I needed a lot more of it. Especially at the end, because it was building up to a grand finale that fizzled out. Gavin was really likeable, earnest and protective. Adelaide's honesty was really refreshing. That was the point where she showed moral backbone, though at other points I wasn't sure she had one, (more on that later).
For the two main characters to bump into each other so often at the beginning just felt rather contrived and I would have liked a bit more time spent with other characters and less insta-love between them. Because it got intense really quickly. Within a few days they're properly in love. I would have liked this part to be less rushed and more natural. I think it could have been done even in a novella length. It just ended up feeling sickly sweet, though it was good that it was a clean read.
I was disappointed that Adelaide did not use the skill set she aquired doing criminal activity at the end for good and to help Gavin stop them. She actually did very little for the whole book. For a thief, she never actually comes close to stealing what she's tasked with stealing. She's not sneaky or stealthy. She always bumps into someone, usually Gavin. I mean, I'm glad in some ways that she doesn't do anything criminal, but she supposedly has in the past and is supposedly good at it, and is even trusted with this big job. So we should have really seen more of that, and have her character development come through that. So she became a bit useless. Now, I don't actually mind a damsel in distress character, who lets the guy shoulder the burden, but it would have been nice for her to actually do something other than run back home and wait. Literally doing nothing.
Now, we do get her choosing to be honest, which we got instead of her actually trying to carry out the job she was sent there for, and that honesty was great, and I was really happy about it. What I really loved was that there was the classic set up of a giant deception and tricking the guy to fall in love, all very predictable, and then the author broke the trope and had her heroine tell the truth instead! A character who refuses to go against her conscience even at a great cost. Wonderful. It then gives the author the opportunity to dig deep into what can happen when people are honest with each other and when they trust and forgive each other. She could have taken a different route and created tension from lies and deception, but she chose a much more wholesome, less trodden route, that to me, made the story a lot more interesting. There was still some lying going on, but on the whole, Adelaide was pretty honest with Gavin.
That is, except the part about this treatment. This is the part that I have serious problems with: she smuggles and aquires for her mother a drug that is created through dark magic and soul stealing.
This use of an unethical 'cure' gets justified and excused by Gavin (and later the king) because there are no other alternatives... Adelaide is only really sorry about the fact that it's illegal, and not the fact that the creation of this treatment causes the suffering and presumably the death (not 100% sure about death -the author doesn't give us much info, but 'soul stealing' sounds like death) of others. At least the King at the end says they must find another way, because he cannot condone the use of such an unethical and abusive treatment. BUT, he seems to be the only one at the end of the story who cares about how this treatment is made. Adelaide certainly shows no remorse.
The resolution of all of this ends up in a cover up, where she faces no consequences and all parties lie about her involvement in all of it. She not only gets absolved of all crimes, (which are many), but everything all gets hushed up. She even asks if that's legal, to which Gavin essentially says because it was the king's idea then it is. This is so incredibly dubious! In stories like this, we want our protagonists and 'good guys' to uphold the law and protect people (in this case, NOT using other people's souls to create cures for you or your family!), not skirt around the law to suit the storyline or give characters a 'happy ending'. Adelaide should have done jail time, and Gavin should have waited for her. Or at the very very least, had a public pardon showing her predicament and her involvement in bringing the people in charge to justice. Coercion or not, she made a bargain with a woman to supply her a substance created from other people's souls. That makes her a villain in my books.
The covering up and lying about all her crimes is not a good start to a relationship nor right for the future wife of the cousin of the king to get away with. I disliked this part so much! I know you can argue that she was under that lady's thumb and being abused and manipulated, BUT, the source of this drug being tortured human beings means that Adelaide is, yes a victim, but also an abuser herself, by futhering the supply chain, demand and use of a drug destroying lives. I would have liked Adelaide to choose to take responsibility and make amends to the families of those whose souls were snatched away so that her mum could prolong her life. The more I think about it, the more cross I get. The author really shouldn't have made such an ethical problem if she wasn't going to fully explore it.
Sorry, I know that's a bit of a rant, but I honestly thought after the author showed Adelaide's refusal to go against her conscience and steal the Eye or deceive Gavin, that she would show her having a strong moral backbone as she turns away from her crimes and willingly faces judgement for them. So I was a bit shocked by the ending.
I also wasn't enamoured with the whole pretending to be the duke's mistress thing. It was obviously used to force the two into closer proximity, but the duke seemed like a guy who would care about propriety and not sullying a woman's reputation. So it made me more annoyed that he'd risk her reputation like that. Though she's already a criminal, a traitor and essentially a trafficker, so perhaps he thought her reputation couldn't get any worse.
I think the story had good potential, but I just didn't like some of the plot and character choices.
CW:
- Lang - b*stard, damn
- reference to dark magic and soul stealing, but the male protagonist is deeply opposed to it, until he learns that the woman he loves purchased a cure using it and then he says it's okay because there were no other ethical alternatives
- use of magic as a tortuous punishment on someone
- abusive criminal boss
- reference to seducing someone as a means to manipulate them
- pretending to be the duke's mistress, sleeping in an adjoining room and then sharing a bed
- kissing, but clean
- protagonist faces no consequences for any of her crimes, and doesn't make amends or show remorse for using a drug created by stealing other people's souls
The positives: the magic system is cool and intriguing, but I needed a lot more of it. Especially at the end, because it was building up to a grand finale that fizzled out. Gavin was really likeable, earnest and protective. Adelaide's honesty was really refreshing. That was the point where she showed moral backbone, though at other points I wasn't sure she had one, (more on that later).
For the two main characters to bump into each other so often at the beginning just felt rather contrived and I would have liked a bit more time spent with other characters and less insta-love between them. Because it got intense really quickly. Within a few days they're properly in love. I would have liked this part to be less rushed and more natural. I think it could have been done even in a novella length. It just ended up feeling sickly sweet, though it was good that it was a clean read.
I was disappointed that Adelaide did not use the skill set she aquired doing criminal activity at the end for good and to help Gavin stop them. She actually did very little for the whole book. For a thief, she never actually comes close to stealing what she's tasked with stealing. She's not sneaky or stealthy. She always bumps into someone, usually Gavin. I mean, I'm glad in some ways that she doesn't do anything criminal, but she supposedly has in the past and is supposedly good at it, and is even trusted with this big job. So we should have really seen more of that, and have her character development come through that. So she became a bit useless. Now, I don't actually mind a damsel in distress character, who lets the guy shoulder the burden, but it would have been nice for her to actually do something other than run back home and wait. Literally doing nothing.
Now, we do get her choosing to be honest, which we got instead of her actually trying to carry out the job she was sent there for, and that honesty was great, and I was really happy about it. What I really loved was that there was the classic set up of a giant deception and tricking the guy to fall in love, all very predictable, and then the author broke the trope and had her heroine tell the truth instead! A character who refuses to go against her conscience even at a great cost. Wonderful. It then gives the author the opportunity to dig deep into what can happen when people are honest with each other and when they trust and forgive each other. She could have taken a different route and created tension from lies and deception, but she chose a much more wholesome, less trodden route, that to me, made the story a lot more interesting. There was still some lying going on, but on the whole, Adelaide was pretty honest with Gavin.
That is, except the part about this treatment. This is the part that I have serious problems with: she smuggles and aquires for her mother a drug that is created through dark magic and soul stealing.
This use of an unethical 'cure' gets justified and excused by Gavin (and later the king) because there are no other alternatives... Adelaide is only really sorry about the fact that it's illegal, and not the fact that the creation of this treatment causes the suffering and presumably the death (not 100% sure about death -the author doesn't give us much info, but 'soul stealing' sounds like death) of others. At least the King at the end says they must find another way, because he cannot condone the use of such an unethical and abusive treatment. BUT, he seems to be the only one at the end of the story who cares about how this treatment is made. Adelaide certainly shows no remorse.
The resolution of all of this ends up in a cover up, where she faces no consequences and all parties lie about her involvement in all of it. She not only gets absolved of all crimes, (which are many), but everything all gets hushed up. She even asks if that's legal, to which Gavin essentially says because it was the king's idea then it is. This is so incredibly dubious! In stories like this, we want our protagonists and 'good guys' to uphold the law and protect people (in this case, NOT using other people's souls to create cures for you or your family!), not skirt around the law to suit the storyline or give characters a 'happy ending'. Adelaide should have done jail time, and Gavin should have waited for her. Or at the very very least, had a public pardon showing her predicament and her involvement in bringing the people in charge to justice. Coercion or not, she made a bargain with a woman to supply her a substance created from other people's souls. That makes her a villain in my books.
The covering up and lying about all her crimes is not a good start to a relationship nor right for the future wife of the cousin of the king to get away with. I disliked this part so much! I know you can argue that she was under that lady's thumb and being abused and manipulated, BUT, the source of this drug being tortured human beings means that Adelaide is, yes a victim, but also an abuser herself, by futhering the supply chain, demand and use of a drug destroying lives. I would have liked Adelaide to choose to take responsibility and make amends to the families of those whose souls were snatched away so that her mum could prolong her life. The more I think about it, the more cross I get. The author really shouldn't have made such an ethical problem if she wasn't going to fully explore it.
Sorry, I know that's a bit of a rant, but I honestly thought after the author showed Adelaide's refusal to go against her conscience and steal the Eye or deceive Gavin, that she would show her having a strong moral backbone as she turns away from her crimes and willingly faces judgement for them. So I was a bit shocked by the ending.
I also wasn't enamoured with the whole pretending to be the duke's mistress thing. It was obviously used to force the two into closer proximity, but the duke seemed like a guy who would care about propriety and not sullying a woman's reputation. So it made me more annoyed that he'd risk her reputation like that. Though she's already a criminal, a traitor and essentially a trafficker, so perhaps he thought her reputation couldn't get any worse.
I think the story had good potential, but I just didn't like some of the plot and character choices.
CW:
- Lang - b*stard, damn
- reference to dark magic and soul stealing, but the male protagonist is deeply opposed to it, until he learns that the woman he loves purchased a cure using it and then he says it's okay because there were no other ethical alternatives
- use of magic as a tortuous punishment on someone
- abusive criminal boss
- reference to seducing someone as a means to manipulate them
- pretending to be the duke's mistress, sleeping in an adjoining room and then sharing a bed
- kissing, but clean
- protagonist faces no consequences for any of her crimes, and doesn't make amends or show remorse for using a drug created by stealing other people's souls
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
I feel like there was a lot of untapped potential with this book. It was kinda reading almost like a draft version of what the final product could have been. There was a lot more detail that could have been added in, in order to make the story connect with the reader more. I didn’t feel like I was fully immersed in the story at all. I didn’t particularly love any of the characters, I also love a good side character and didn’t get that from this book either. I lot of the writing could have been developed further, some of the dialogue didn’t flow that great and kinda seemed forced. But I think the potential was there and it had a good story line and plot if only it was executed a little better.
June 14, 2025
Thank you to the author for an eARC!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is my second read in the Tempting Thieves collection, and I loved it. Adelaide is carrying out tasks given to her by someone who helps her mother receive the illegal cure for an illness that plagues many, while Gavin is an archduke trying to protect the kingdom.
This one was a dual POV, and it was great to see the suspicion on both sides. Gavin purposefully put out the job posting with the intention of luring someone who's been stealing from the elite, and when Adelaide appears, he thinks someone has fallen into his trap. While it’s not her necessarily that has, and there are several other factors that play that come to light, their dynamic is fun to watch. And it’s not even really them pulling the strings.
Watching two people just feel that pull, while also trying to better a kingdom, is a great story. There’s action, romance, and intrigue, and I can’t help but root for it all.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is my second read in the Tempting Thieves collection, and I loved it. Adelaide is carrying out tasks given to her by someone who helps her mother receive the illegal cure for an illness that plagues many, while Gavin is an archduke trying to protect the kingdom.
This one was a dual POV, and it was great to see the suspicion on both sides. Gavin purposefully put out the job posting with the intention of luring someone who's been stealing from the elite, and when Adelaide appears, he thinks someone has fallen into his trap. While it’s not her necessarily that has, and there are several other factors that play that come to light, their dynamic is fun to watch. And it’s not even really them pulling the strings.
Watching two people just feel that pull, while also trying to better a kingdom, is a great story. There’s action, romance, and intrigue, and I can’t help but root for it all.
May 4, 2025
A beautiful, well-written tale about a thief who was tasked with stealing a jewel that could rearrange the cosmos that ends up stealing more than she bargained for.
Definitely a 4.5/5 read with plenty of cute romance fluff to warm your heart. It’s a delightful short story that’s worth the time and the warm feelings it’ll give you.
Blessed with an ARC ❤️
Definitely a 4.5/5 read with plenty of cute romance fluff to warm your heart. It’s a delightful short story that’s worth the time and the warm feelings it’ll give you.
Blessed with an ARC ❤️
May 21, 2025
To Sway a Flame is a gripping tale of deception, duty, and stolen hearts, where a common thief and a royal protector find themselves entangled in a plot far bigger than either of them imagined. Brianna R. Shaffery delivers a slow-burn fantasy romance that’s rich in tension, layered with secrets, and anchored by two compelling leads who are far more alike than they realize.
Adelaide is a wonderfully complex heroine—fiercely loyal, morally torn, and willing to risk everything to keep her mother alive. Her internal conflict between guilt and survival adds emotional depth to the tension-filled heist plot. Opposite her, Archduke Gavin Hughes is a refreshingly honorable male lead, weighed down by duty and responsibility, but never cold or unfeeling. Watching these two circle each other—one trying to deceive, the other trying to catch—is a delicious dance of suspicion, chemistry, and unexpected vulnerability.
The world of Kordouva feels lived-in, with just enough political and magical weight to keep the stakes high without overwhelming the personal arcs. The Eye of Behelwer is a compelling MacGuffin, and the looming threat of Mistress Scrabs and Penumbra’s Army adds a sinister edge that builds as the story unfolds. The romance is slow-burn with a strong emotional payoff, though at times, the pacing lags slightly in the middle, and some of the side characters could have used a bit more depth.
Still, the heart of the story—two people on opposite sides learning to trust and choose each other in a world full of lies—is beautifully done. To Sway a Flame balances plot, romance, and character development with finesse, and sets the stage for even greater stakes to come.
Perfect for fans of robbery-meets-royalty plots, forbidden romance, and morally gray heroines, this book is a strong start to what promises to be a thrilling series.
Adelaide is a wonderfully complex heroine—fiercely loyal, morally torn, and willing to risk everything to keep her mother alive. Her internal conflict between guilt and survival adds emotional depth to the tension-filled heist plot. Opposite her, Archduke Gavin Hughes is a refreshingly honorable male lead, weighed down by duty and responsibility, but never cold or unfeeling. Watching these two circle each other—one trying to deceive, the other trying to catch—is a delicious dance of suspicion, chemistry, and unexpected vulnerability.
The world of Kordouva feels lived-in, with just enough political and magical weight to keep the stakes high without overwhelming the personal arcs. The Eye of Behelwer is a compelling MacGuffin, and the looming threat of Mistress Scrabs and Penumbra’s Army adds a sinister edge that builds as the story unfolds. The romance is slow-burn with a strong emotional payoff, though at times, the pacing lags slightly in the middle, and some of the side characters could have used a bit more depth.
Still, the heart of the story—two people on opposite sides learning to trust and choose each other in a world full of lies—is beautifully done. To Sway a Flame balances plot, romance, and character development with finesse, and sets the stage for even greater stakes to come.
Perfect for fans of robbery-meets-royalty plots, forbidden romance, and morally gray heroines, this book is a strong start to what promises to be a thrilling series.
March 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Shelf Trophy 💙🖤💜
This book earned every emotional beat.
The romance is what makes it. It’s not rushed—it’s built. Every moment between Adelaide and Gavin carries weight, and the dual POV adds so much depth. The same kiss can feel soft and grounding to her, but desperate and consuming to him—and that contrast makes everything hit harder.
✨ Gavin ✨
He’s consistent, grounded, and intentional. He doesn’t just say things—he follows through. He chooses her in the big moments and the quiet ones. And the way his magic (his flame) ties into his emotions—and how she steadies it instead of extinguishing it—was so well done.
The payoff? Completely worth it.
The alignment? Earned.
The feeling? This is why we read.
✨ Yeah… I also kinda love Gavin. ✨
This book earned every emotional beat.
The romance is what makes it. It’s not rushed—it’s built. Every moment between Adelaide and Gavin carries weight, and the dual POV adds so much depth. The same kiss can feel soft and grounding to her, but desperate and consuming to him—and that contrast makes everything hit harder.
✨ Gavin ✨
He’s consistent, grounded, and intentional. He doesn’t just say things—he follows through. He chooses her in the big moments and the quiet ones. And the way his magic (his flame) ties into his emotions—and how she steadies it instead of extinguishing it—was so well done.
The payoff? Completely worth it.
The alignment? Earned.
The feeling? This is why we read.
✨ Yeah… I also kinda love Gavin. ✨
May 17, 2025
Just finished To Sway a Flame by Brianna R. Shaffery🔥
This is book 7 in the Tempting Thieves series and it was such a fun book.
Adelaide meets Archduke Gavin Hughes on the side of the road… but spoiler: it’s no accident. She’s on a secret mission to steal a powerful relic, and he’s trying to track down the person behind all the big thefts (aka her boss 👀).
There’s tension, bad guys, high stakes, and a whole lot of desire. Loved the dual POV too — it made it so easier to see their prospective and see how tangled things get.
If you like fantasy romance with thieves, secrets, and danger, definitely check this one out.
This is book 7 in the Tempting Thieves series and it was such a fun book.
Adelaide meets Archduke Gavin Hughes on the side of the road… but spoiler: it’s no accident. She’s on a secret mission to steal a powerful relic, and he’s trying to track down the person behind all the big thefts (aka her boss 👀).
There’s tension, bad guys, high stakes, and a whole lot of desire. Loved the dual POV too — it made it so easier to see their prospective and see how tangled things get.
If you like fantasy romance with thieves, secrets, and danger, definitely check this one out.
May 16, 2025
To Sway a Flame
An exciting no spice romantasy. It was a sweet slow burn that warmed the heart. The story was mixed with a bit of mystery, romance, magic, and suspense.
Adelaide was caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak and I enjoyed her heart and character throughout the story.
Gavin was a sweet protector MMC. He sought to protect everyone and had a good heart.
Together they were cute!
With tropes like fake dating, who did this to you, he falls first, thief/noble, forced proximity, morally grey characters, family loyalty, fire wielding MMC, and more, this book was a great addition to this collection!
An exciting no spice romantasy. It was a sweet slow burn that warmed the heart. The story was mixed with a bit of mystery, romance, magic, and suspense.
Adelaide was caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak and I enjoyed her heart and character throughout the story.
Gavin was a sweet protector MMC. He sought to protect everyone and had a good heart.
Together they were cute!
With tropes like fake dating, who did this to you, he falls first, thief/noble, forced proximity, morally grey characters, family loyalty, fire wielding MMC, and more, this book was a great addition to this collection!
January 25, 2026
I absolutely adored this book. Adelaide and Gavin couldn't be more opposite, yet they're so clearly perfect for each other from the outset. The story starts simply enough, but things quickly get complicated as they each discover the other is not quite what they expected. My heart really went out to Adelaide, and I can see why she ended up becoming a thief. On the other hand, I can appreciate Gavin's dedication to his work, and keeping the kingdom safe. The story unfolds at a good pace, and the slow burn is killer, but works well within the context of the story. Overall, it was a mix of sweet romance, magic, and intrigue. Definitely recommend if you enjoy fade-to-black romantasy!
June 3, 2025
A well written tale of love, deception, and betrayal with a little magic mixed in.
Adelaide has been living under a dark cloud for years, only because she needed essential medication for her mother. Forced to life a crime Adelaide is desperate to escape when she is sent to steal from a powerful Archduke.
This brings a change to Adelaide's life!
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book.
Adelaide has been living under a dark cloud for years, only because she needed essential medication for her mother. Forced to life a crime Adelaide is desperate to escape when she is sent to steal from a powerful Archduke.
This brings a change to Adelaide's life!
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book.
January 17, 2026
This was one of my favorites in this series
It's so romantic, so sweet, and so exciting. I wish there had been an epilogue saying if they ever found a humane cure, though. Also, technically, we only know for sure right now that she's staying on as his mistress. While obviously, we don't think he's that type of guy, it would have been nice to have some confirmation that he really DOES intend to marry her!
It's so romantic, so sweet, and so exciting. I wish there had been an epilogue saying if they ever found a humane cure, though. Also, technically, we only know for sure right now that she's staying on as his mistress. While obviously, we don't think he's that type of guy, it would have been nice to have some confirmation that he really DOES intend to marry her!
May 14, 2025
To Sway a Flame is a fun and sweet read, perfect for those looking for a quick and engaging romance.
May 23, 2025
A sweet read
First time reading a book by this author and I loved it. It was a short and sweet read with high stakes.
First time reading a book by this author and I loved it. It was a short and sweet read with high stakes.
May 31, 2025
Giggling and kicking my feet at the end 🤭
August 12, 2026
This was like a Hallmark movie version of “Romantasy” as in it was very formulaic and predictable. There is nothing special about any of the characters.
November 21, 2025
"To Sway a Flame" (Kindle Edition) by Brianna R. Shaffery Reason for DNF (Did Not Finish): A confusing narrative structure and over-reliance on emotional angst that felt manufactured rather than earned.
This book is a romantic fantasy, often characterized by a focus on intense emotional stakes, complex relationships, and a blend of magic and romance. Unfortunately, "To Sway a Flame" fell short for me due to key issues in narrative clarity and emotional depth.
Where It Lost Me (2/5)
Confusing World-Building and Rules: The magic system and the internal rules of the world were introduced in a way that felt disjointed and confusing. There was a lack of clear explanation for how certain magical abilities worked or why the political/social structure was the way it was. I spent too much time trying to figure out the world's mechanics rather than engaging with the story.
Manufactured Emotional Angst: The romantic conflict relied heavily on miscommunication, unnecessary secrets, and forced emotional turmoil. The angst felt manufactured to stretch the story rather than arising organically from the characters' established personalities or the plot's true stakes. This made the relationship frustrating rather than compelling.
Lack of Narrative Flow: The pacing was uneven. The story rushed through critical plot points but lingered endlessly on internal monologues about sadness or yearning. This lack of balance created a stop-start reading experience that hindered immersion.
Predictable Tropes: Despite the fantasy setting, the core romance utilized several well-worn, predictable tropes without adding any fresh twists or significant depth, leading to a feeling of familiarity without enjoyment.
Conclusion:
"To Sway a Flame" has a potentially interesting premise, but the execution was too scattered and emotionally manipulative for my taste. I stopped reading when the confusion surrounding the world and the repetitive cycle of unearned emotional drama became tedious. It's a book that aimed for high stakes but only delivered frustration.
This book is a romantic fantasy, often characterized by a focus on intense emotional stakes, complex relationships, and a blend of magic and romance. Unfortunately, "To Sway a Flame" fell short for me due to key issues in narrative clarity and emotional depth.
Where It Lost Me (2/5)
Confusing World-Building and Rules: The magic system and the internal rules of the world were introduced in a way that felt disjointed and confusing. There was a lack of clear explanation for how certain magical abilities worked or why the political/social structure was the way it was. I spent too much time trying to figure out the world's mechanics rather than engaging with the story.
Manufactured Emotional Angst: The romantic conflict relied heavily on miscommunication, unnecessary secrets, and forced emotional turmoil. The angst felt manufactured to stretch the story rather than arising organically from the characters' established personalities or the plot's true stakes. This made the relationship frustrating rather than compelling.
Lack of Narrative Flow: The pacing was uneven. The story rushed through critical plot points but lingered endlessly on internal monologues about sadness or yearning. This lack of balance created a stop-start reading experience that hindered immersion.
Predictable Tropes: Despite the fantasy setting, the core romance utilized several well-worn, predictable tropes without adding any fresh twists or significant depth, leading to a feeling of familiarity without enjoyment.
Conclusion:
"To Sway a Flame" has a potentially interesting premise, but the execution was too scattered and emotionally manipulative for my taste. I stopped reading when the confusion surrounding the world and the repetitive cycle of unearned emotional drama became tedious. It's a book that aimed for high stakes but only delivered frustration.
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