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Flame of the Woods
A KINGDOM RULED BY TYRANNY, TWO GUARDS BOUND BY DUTY. UNTIL THE CROWN PRINCESS CHANGES EVERYTHING ...
Deep in the jungle, a tyrant rules over the citizens of Adren. Poverty and famine are things the people of Adren are well acquainted with. All while the king feasts on the taxes of his people. Unable to do anything else, Neriya and Aslan do their duties as major and princess' bodyguard. Until the crown princess confides in Aslan for an impossible task.
How far will the people of Adren go for the freedom of their country?
Deep in the jungle, a tyrant rules over the citizens of Adren. Poverty and famine are things the people of Adren are well acquainted with. All while the king feasts on the taxes of his people. Unable to do anything else, Neriya and Aslan do their duties as major and princess' bodyguard. Until the crown princess confides in Aslan for an impossible task.
How far will the people of Adren go for the freedom of their country?
457 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 2, 2025
I was chosen as an ARC reader and I loved this book right away. It hits all the right spots and tropes that you’ll desire, and the book itself is a blast to read. The characters are well thought out and have a lot of personality. I truly enjoyed reading this book and give it a 5/5 stars.
PS It has amazing side characters that will make your day.
PS It has amazing side characters that will make your day.
June 29, 2025
I wanted to like this. The premise had so much potential... a fantasy set in the jungle with spirit magic and political intrigue? Yes, please. But unfortunately, Flame of the Woods just didn’t deliver for me.
The writing felt more like a school essay than a novel. It was very stiff and overly detailed in all the wrong places. Characters over-explained everything, and despite all the dialogue, most of it felt oddly juvenile. The banter, the relationships, even the inner monologues gave me high school drama vibes. It was hard to believe these were supposed to be adults, let alone royalty and trained guards.
The worldbuilding also had some major inconsistencies. It’s set in a lush, panther-riding jungle kingdom... but apparently they have viscountesses and talk about projectors and cells like modern-day biology students? These terms really threw me out of the story, especially since the setting didn’t seem to support that level of tech or science.
Plot-wise, everything felt painfully obvious. We, as the audience, were more “told” than “shown.” The characters were one-dimensional, their motivations unclear, and don’t even get me started on the political dynamics. Somehow, a random half-trained guard gets to be a princess’s personal escort. The MMC is forced into an arranged marriage (with a vicountess who is only ever referred to by her title or as “his betrothed”... her name is Theresa, apparently?). There’s no sense of hierarchy or real stakes. Even discussions of regicide happen with casual shoulder shrugs.
Also: abrupt chapter endings with no flow to the next one, repetitive curses (“Spirits!”), unconvincing fight scenes, and a rather underwhelming ending that didn’t offer much closure. It is a standalone, which at least means I won’t be tempted to continue.
That said, the setting had potential, and I did enjoy the idea of spirits tied to the land (though we never saw these spirits...). With more cohesive worldbuilding and better character development, this could’ve been something special.
But as it stands, this book was not for me.
The writing felt more like a school essay than a novel. It was very stiff and overly detailed in all the wrong places. Characters over-explained everything, and despite all the dialogue, most of it felt oddly juvenile. The banter, the relationships, even the inner monologues gave me high school drama vibes. It was hard to believe these were supposed to be adults, let alone royalty and trained guards.
The worldbuilding also had some major inconsistencies. It’s set in a lush, panther-riding jungle kingdom... but apparently they have viscountesses and talk about projectors and cells like modern-day biology students? These terms really threw me out of the story, especially since the setting didn’t seem to support that level of tech or science.
Plot-wise, everything felt painfully obvious. We, as the audience, were more “told” than “shown.” The characters were one-dimensional, their motivations unclear, and don’t even get me started on the political dynamics. Somehow, a random half-trained guard gets to be a princess’s personal escort. The MMC is forced into an arranged marriage (with a vicountess who is only ever referred to by her title or as “his betrothed”... her name is Theresa, apparently?). There’s no sense of hierarchy or real stakes. Even discussions of regicide happen with casual shoulder shrugs.
Also: abrupt chapter endings with no flow to the next one, repetitive curses (“Spirits!”), unconvincing fight scenes, and a rather underwhelming ending that didn’t offer much closure. It is a standalone, which at least means I won’t be tempted to continue.
That said, the setting had potential, and I did enjoy the idea of spirits tied to the land (though we never saw these spirits...). With more cohesive worldbuilding and better character development, this could’ve been something special.
But as it stands, this book was not for me.
June 8, 2025
Spoiler Free Review
I was chosen to be an ARC reader for this story, it did not affect my review.
Flame of the Woods by Kyra Kim
A kingdom overflowing with tyranny and greed. Two guards duty bound. One crown princess with a dream to change the kingdom.
Kyra Kim has created a story that is a mix of fantasy and a high stakes with just the right amount of banter. The reader has no choice but to root for the plan to succeed even when the odds are against Neriya and Aslan and all they are fighting for.
I was chosen to be an ARC reader for this story, it did not affect my review.
Flame of the Woods by Kyra Kim
A kingdom overflowing with tyranny and greed. Two guards duty bound. One crown princess with a dream to change the kingdom.
Kyra Kim has created a story that is a mix of fantasy and a high stakes with just the right amount of banter. The reader has no choice but to root for the plan to succeed even when the odds are against Neriya and Aslan and all they are fighting for.
July 7, 2025
This book at the and really gave me the biggest reading hangover! The story grips you from the beginning and takes you on a long windy journey of hope, defeat, developing relationships, changing bonds, and injustices. One of the best parts of the story was the characters not only Niya but also Aslan and Luano and Dabria’s crew. Even the relationships that already existed were strengthened throughout the narrative, and tested in ways even the characters are shocked by. This book stats on a small heartbreak and ends on literally such a huge heartbreak; and while maybe I wished it ended differently its pretty true to how the people In power get to decide what information we have access to and how our quality of life is going to be. All of it makes sense given the way the king is crafted - which I will say is good but I wish he had been fleshed out more too.
In short - There are twists and turns too, and definitely check out the trigger warnings. The characters are relatable, the plot and pacing are good, and this one did *emotional damage*! Read it! Thanks to the author for the arc.
In short - There are twists and turns too, and definitely check out the trigger warnings. The characters are relatable, the plot and pacing are good, and this one did *emotional damage*! Read it! Thanks to the author for the arc.
June 22, 2025
When two guards fall for one another.You think that sets the stage for this story but that couldn't be further from the truth.
There's so much more to this story than that.Because you have a princess who wants to change the kingdom that she's in and is trying to plan the downfall of the king. Yet, even when the plan seems like it won't succeed you find yourself sitting there rooting for them.
This was an interesting story that I absolutely enjoyed. The plot was very interesting and the story line I felt was very well developed.
There's so much more to this story than that.Because you have a princess who wants to change the kingdom that she's in and is trying to plan the downfall of the king. Yet, even when the plan seems like it won't succeed you find yourself sitting there rooting for them.
This was an interesting story that I absolutely enjoyed. The plot was very interesting and the story line I felt was very well developed.
June 19, 2025
In a kingdom ruled by tyranny, two guards quietly fall for each other but remains burried for quite sometime - It’s all glances, unspoken words, and mutual sacrifice. When a defiant princess who is plotting the king's downfall, they’re pulled into a rebellion that demands loyalty, sacrifice, and impossible choices.
The book is a blend of slow-burn romance, rich found family, and rising revolution, with unforgettable side characters and emotional stakes.
The pacing balances political intrigue with personal stakes, and while the book doesn’t end on a major cliffhanger, it somehow sets up something for the next one.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity.
The book is a blend of slow-burn romance, rich found family, and rising revolution, with unforgettable side characters and emotional stakes.
The pacing balances political intrigue with personal stakes, and while the book doesn’t end on a major cliffhanger, it somehow sets up something for the next one.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews