Immortal Flame: Immortal Origins Akadian's POV

Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1.5

by Taryn Knightly

IMMORTAL ORIGINS from Akadian's POV Book 1.5

"If only she could see herself the way I do. Then, she would see what she truly is; beautiful ferocity made flesh. In five hundred years, I've never seen anything as terrifyingly dangerous as her smile. A smile I know will be the end of me. But as long as it's the last thing I ever see, I'll embrace my undoing..."

Akadian has spent half a millennium hating what he is and what he was made for but found routine as a prince of the empire. His life has never been his, and he's grown to not think about it. Until one day a servant pledges her name to the Immortal Trials; a deadly competition in which the winner gains a place in the kingdom of the gods. Setting them both on a course of fate that could change everything...

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 1, 2026

About the author

Taryn Knightly was born and raised in Colorado but has spent much of her life traveling and moving around. She's been a fan of reading since she could pick up a book. Her favorite genre is fantasy, though she dabbles all over and loves sinking her teeth into a good mystery thriller. She met the love of her life in Washington and now spends her time letting her sense of adventure fuel her creativity. IMMORTAL ORIGINS is her debut dark fantasy and the first installment in the Chronicles of the Immortal Trials. Welcome and happy reading!

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say I already read this last year but I couldn’t remember if I did it or not. The author did a sneak peek of this book. I’m still looking forward to book two as I’m more into romantasy now than when I started reading Immortal Origins last year

[Literary Purrception · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

My review is my honest opinion based on what I believe while trying my best to think from the perspective of both new and returning readers of this series.

Immortal Flame by Taryn Knightly is number 1.5 out of the Chronicles of Immortal Trials series. This will take place during the same time as Immortal Origins, but through Akadian’s (MMC) POV.

If you have read Immortal Origins then you know the little bit of Akadian’s POV that we do get, leaves us wanting more. Well, we asked.. And we did receive! I am a huge fan of a storyline with both FMC and MMC POVs. Having the male perspective is such a *chef’s kiss*.

At this stage, I am no stranger of Taryn’s work and really enjoyed Immortal Origins, so I already came into this expecting her to deliver. For me this did not disappoint. I loved having more of Akadian’s POV and we even got some questions answered. Immortal Flame does include new content even during the same timeline.

I will say the overall flow of Immortal Origins and Immortal Flames does differ from each other. This really is best viewed as an expansion of book 1, in my opinion, as of now. While Immortal Flames does include some new content, it does have a lot of what you find in Immortal Origins. It’s honestly something I have had to sit back and think about when it came to my review because this situation isn’t necessarily the norm. This book was provided to us because we the readers wanted it. So, it’s in its own unique category. It’s kind of like a novella, but yet also not as you won’t find the entirety of Immortal Origins written from his POV; just a decent chunk. So, you will come to find that as you read Immortal Flames it’s disjointed in structure compared to its predecessor, but also a decent bit of rinse and repeating from book one.

With all of this in mind, I ultimately would recommend doing this as a tandem read. It is my personal opinion that tandem reading Immortal Origins and Immortal Flames together would ultimately be the best experience overall. Yes, it may feel a bit repetitive that way as you go through it, but it will feel less disjointed and as if it is skipping ahead; reducing the amount of potential confusion. This is not a book that can be read without first reading Immortal Origins, and I do believe some of the key parts of this book will become crucial to the story as it progresses, so I do believe this won’t be something you should just skip over.

Do I recommend this series and this author? Absolutely, I do. She listens to her readers and it’s a great read. Do I wish Immortal Flames were written into Immortal Origins from the beginning, so it felt more cohesive? Yes. However, given the circumstances I can understand and respect the decisions that were made. Overall, I am very grateful that we received more of Akadian. Am I excited for Immortal Secrets (#2)? You bet I am.

[Victoria (Tori) Holzner · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I RECEIVED AN ADVANCED READER'S COPY (eBOOK) IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**
Tropes:
- touch her and d*e
- he fell first
- burn the world down for her MMC
- enemies to lovers (he's her enemy)
- slow burn

Favorite Quotes:
- "She wears the dragon leathers I had made for her, and the read makes her look like a dragon queen. One I will serve until my soul no longer walks this world." - Akadian
- "A sly smile slides across my lips. I think I love this woman. I don't know how I didn't see it before. But I am completely, impenetrably in love with her. And I always will be." - Akadian

So, I'm conflicted on this one.
1) I read this in tandem with Immortal Origins (as is suggested), but the author does state you can read Akadian's POV without reading Immortal Origins. However, the chapter headings would through me off if I had read Immortal Flame not in tandem with Immortal Origins. My personal feeling on this would be to label the chapters normally, then add a guide in the back of the book of how to read in tandem with Immortal Origins.
2) There was not a triggers or content warning page in the eBook / ARC edition for this, and like I found out the hard way in Immortal Origins, there's a new trigger for me concerning child death. I hope this is remedied on the release.
3) I almost gave up on this book because I found that reading in tandem with Immortal Origins was 98% a waste of time. A WHOLE HECKING LOT of Immortal Origins and Immortal Flame ARE THE EXACT SAME - I mean I'd read a whole chapter that was 98% identical in both books but in Immortal Flame Akadian had an extra couple of thoughts / sentences. This was such a turn off for me, and almost resulted in a DNF.
4) There were several of errors in this ebook version. I hightlighted them out, and tried reaching out to Taryn about one of them via the email provided but received no response. She may have already known / was informed, but I'm not sure. In total I found 32 errors in grammar, sentence structure, or spelling.

I really wanted a true Akadian POV book, with his own individual perspective and thoughts. I don't think this hit that itch.

[Nadege · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Immortal Flame by Taryn Knightly in exchange for an honest review.

After absolutely loving the first book in the series, I was excited to dive back into this world. While the first installment was a fantastic read, one thing that held it back for me was my lack of connection to Akadian. I also felt that the romance between the main characters developed a little too suddenly. Immortal Flame changed that perspective.

Told entirely from Akadian's point of view, this book adds so much depth to the story. It fills in the emotional gaps left by the first novel and gives readers a much clearer understanding of his motivations, struggles, and decisions. Seeing the events through his eyes made me appreciate his character far more than I did when everything was filtered through Ambrose's perspective.

One thing I especially appreciated was the care the author took to make this an easy tandem read.

One of the biggest improvement for me was the romance. The relationship that initially felt like it came out of nowhere in the first book now makes so much more sense. Understanding Akadian's internal thoughts and feelings gave their connection the emotional foundation I felt was missing before.

My only real criticism is the inevitable repetition. Since this book covers many of the same events as the first novel, there are moments that feel repetitive.

Personally, I think the ideal reading experience would have been to have both perspectives woven together from the very beginning. That said, I completely understand why this book exists as a separate installment. It clearly came from readers wanting Akadian's perspective after the release of book one, and I think fans of the series will be happy to finally have it.

Overall, I really enjoyed Immortal Flame, and I would absolutely recommend reading it in tandem with the first book rather than waiting until after you've finished it.

[Arcs & Edges · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you look at a brutal world through the eyes of the monster himself? Witnessing the fatal trials of Eltoria from Akadian's perspective was everything I did not know I needed.

Immortal Flame takes us back to the deadly arenas and high-stakes politics of Immortal Origins, but this time, the crown prince of fire holds the pen. While the events mirror the first book, this companion novel peels back the layers of Akadian's cold exterior. It reveals the heavy burden of his divine creation, the political traps he must constantly navigate, and the exact moment his world shifted when a certain palace servant caught his attention.

What I Loved
- The Prince's Perspective: It was incredibly fascinating to dive deep into Akadian's mind. Seeing how early on he actually fell for Ambrose completely changed how I view their dynamic and added a brilliant layer of depth to their story.
- Seamless Writing Style: The author maintains the beautiful, atmospheric writing style from the first book while successfully shifting the tone to match a completely different, darker character.

Things for Consideration
- Heavy Overlap: Becasue this is a companion novel retelling the events of book one, there is a substantial amount of overlap in the plot. Reading these two as a tandem read might feel like a bit of an overkill if the details of Immortal Origins are still fresh in your mind.
- The Perfect Refresher: On the flip side, this book serves as the ultimate preparation for the upcoming release of Immortal Secrets. It is the perfect way to get sucked back into the world while gaining a brand-new perspective.

Final Verdict and Recommendations
A highly enjoyable, character-driver 4-star read. If you loved Immortal Origins and are eagerly waiting for book two, I highly recommend picking this up right before diving into Immortal Secrets. If it has been a while since you read the first book, this will also work beautifully as a tandem read to fully immerse yourself in Eltoria once again.

Disclosure
I received a digital ARC directly from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot properly explain how much I loved Immortal Flame. Getting this story from Akadian’s POV was somehow even better than I imagined it would be.

Now, before anything else, you absolutely need to read Immortal Origins first. This is not a standalone and honestly should either be read after book one or, even better, as a tandem read. The world-building, magic system, and overall setup are all established in Immortal Origins, so jumping into this without it would definitely lessen the experience.

And speaking of tandem reading, Taryn Knightly set this up PERFECTLY for it. The chapter headers tell you exactly when to switch between books, which is such a genius way to structure this story. I was so excited to start reading that I completely ignored the tandem read idea, and now I kind of regret it because I know it would have been incredible experiencing the two stories side by side.

But even reading it on its own, this book was amazing.

Getting inside Akadian’s head changes everything. He becomes so much more layered, emotional, and complicated than you initially realize. Experiencing all the major events from his perspective adds so much depth to the original story and completely changes how you see certain moments and decisions.

And honestly? This is exactly how you do a companion POV novel. It does not feel repetitive or unnecessary. It expands the story in meaningful ways and makes you even more invested in the characters and the world.

Of course, now I desperately need the next book even more than I already did.

[ferra_the_bookdragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting Immortal Flame, I expected Akadian’s POV to fill in the gaps left by Immortal Origins. I wanted to understand what made Ambrose stand out to him, why his feelings developed so quickly, and what was happening beneath the surface during the events of Book 1.

Unfortunately, the novella didn’t answer those questions for me. Instead, it mostly mirrors the events of Book 1.

The MMC’s attraction to the FMC happens almost immediately. Considering he’d only just met her and had previously expressed disgust toward her kind, the instant lust made it hard for me to connect with the characters. I wanted more time for the tension, conflict, and relationship to develop before the attraction took over.

I kept waiting for the moment that made me think, “Ah… now I understand what he saw in her, what challenged everything he believed, and why she got under his skin.” It never came.

I also struggled with the explanation surrounding Ambrose’s punishment. Akadian believes someone else would have punished her more harshly if he hadn’t, but from both POVs it seemed like he was the only one who heard her speak out of turn. I couldn’t stop wondering why he didn’t simply stay silent.

Akadian was a weapon, not taught how to love or be loved. I think that could have made for a really compelling character arc. I just wish this novella had explored that part of him more deeply instead of focusing so heavily on his physical attraction to Ambrose. By the end, his repeated thoughts about how beautiful she was and how much he wanted her but couldn’t have her became tiresome.

I’m still undecided about continuing the series, even though I already have the next installment preordered.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read it early in exchange for an honest review!

[Brenna McCardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series, so when I saw the opportunity to read this, I grabbed it. This story was able to give me all the things that I was not able to get from the book before it and more. First off, I fell in love with Akadian all over again. I loved seeing him interact with Ambrose in her book, but seeing the events that happened in book one as they occurred in HIS POV was great.

We got to see when the feelings between them started on his end, since some could say that the chemistry wasn't there, but that wasn't it for me. I loved seeing him fall for her, seeing how devoted to her he became. Seeing the way she cared for him and how she made him feel was pulling at my heart strings that I cannot wait to read the next book.

Seeing this in his pov also gave me some information and also more questions as to Ambrose's purpose and the events that happened, which was good as well.

There were quite a few typos here and there, but aside from that this was a wonderful addition to the series and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the characters. There was a bit of repetition since some of this was in tandem with the first book that could've been done differently, but I still had no issues with as far as I'm concerned.

[Gwen Brophy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really wish this had been available when I first read Immortal Origins last year, because as I said in my review of that book, the handful of Akadian POVs that we got in that helped tremendously with connecting to him, because he was pretty inscrutable and hard to get a handle on otherwise.

These chapters made me love him even more! It was so helpful to get to see that he has been in a cage just as much as Ambrose, and that he's hated it for as long as he's existed. It wasn't a slow awakening because he met Ambrose, but two people who have the same beliefs coming together.

This is a great complement to that book. The only reason that I'm giving it four and not five stars is that this really isn't a novella but more a series of alternative POVs placed in chronological order. Do not get me wrong: I am VERY glad to have read this, and it absolutely improves/flushes out IO, but it's not a standalone book, and if you go into this thinking you can read this alone without having read IO, you'll be totally lost.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, BookSirens, for an early copy of Immortal Flame!
This is perfect for those who want more of Akadian's pov. It can be read either after Immortal Orgins or as a tandem read. Each chapter tells you when it should be read to make doing a tandem easy.
I loved getting into Akadian head and knowing a bit more about his motivations and who he is. I enjoyed seeing his lack of interest in Ambrose turn into genuine feelings.
"She is a curious thing. But if she's been brought here, she's going to die. So, it hardly matters anymore. Pitty,"

Immortal Flame follows the same story as Immortal Origins, just from a new perspective. There are a few additional scenes that provide more insight into Akadian motivations and mindset.
"Heat flares in my chest. A different heat than my magick. This one tingles, traveling into my lower stomach. Do I like being commanded by this woman?"

This book is a must-read if you enjoyed Immortal Orgins. I already adored Akadian before, but I definitely like him more after reading this book

[Shannon Pace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

ARC read
The moment I read Akadian's pov I squealed in excitement!! 🤩

Really enjoyed this novella and thought it was a great addition to the original story. Wouldn't recommend reading it on its own, as it works best if you've already read the main book. I loved the way the chapters were marked, it makes tandem reading so much easier!

Getting to see events from Akadian's pov was such an eye opener. It gave me a much better understanding of his character and motivations and I really enjoyed spending more time in his head. The way he went from calling her little Rose to My Rose 😭 I was DONE!!

I did feel the writing style was a bit lower than the first book. There were a few grammatical errors in my ARC copy which I've already flagged separately. (This is mainly the reason for my lower rating but planning on rereading once it's fully published)

A great read for those who want a deeper look of one of our book boyfriend's pov ❤️✨

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yasmine Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Thank you NetGalley.

I think I loved this even more than book one. I didn't tandem read this, which I think made it that much better. Getting to understanding Akadian's thought process, reasoning and mindset really added to the depth of the story. I felt this novella made sense: it wasn't an unnecessary addition, but rather an enhancement to what already occurred. It also made me rethink my own take aways: how tormented he really was to choosing to between who to recuse: Ambrose or the rest of their party. Even how right from the beginning at the breakfast table his frustration with the role he has to play in punishing servants. And getting to see just how irrevocably he feel in love with Ambrose was very well done.

I know this is still in editing, but there were a few incorrect word uses especially in the last 50 pages (ex himself instead of myself) that made me pause for a moment - only because I thought I had missed going from Akadian's narration to an external narrator.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily:
I feel Akadian's POV was a little, over the top, very love sick vs what I thought he was written as in IO. I feel like his actions dont always match his thoughts but with that said I did really enjoy seeing his side of the story and trying to piece some things together, although I have more questions now. I also had received the ARC of Immortal Origins and I wish I could 5 star them, I think the storyline is really good but there's soooo many typos and grammatical errors that it's very distracting to read for me 😭 (I remember the same issues from Immortal Origins). I know my job as an ARC reader is to focus on the story, but it takes me out of the story when I have to reread to understand a scene due to these errors, or I found myself flipping throughout IO trying to be like this doesn't make sense what did it say in IO, and some times they did not match and that kills the vibe for me.

[Avery Clason · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is technically number 1.5 in the series, it diverges and follows the MMC’s (Akadian) point of view during the events of book one: Immortal Origins.

Typically, I don’t feel pulled toward the novellas that change the point of view of the characters through events we’ve already experienced, but I really enjoyed this one! It felt like it added more to the story and my understanding of his character rather than acting as a fan service to the audience. This book answered a lot of questions that I had during book one and opened more questions that I’m sure will be answered in book two.

Additionally, this book might be best to read in tandem with Immortal Origins, rather than chronologically. There wasn’t much new content in this novel, but it certainly added to what we have already read.

This book was great and something that I would encourage other readers to read when diving into this series!

Thank you for the ARC!

[Pernille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the first book almost a year ago, so my memory was definitely put to the test. Luckily, I remembered more than I thought I would.

This was an enjoyable read, and I really liked getting Akadian's perspective throughout the story. It helped me understand his thoughts and actions much better. That said, he fell a little flat for me at times, and while I did connect with him, it wasn't as deeply as I had hoped.

I think part of the reason was that some of the chapters were the same as in the first book, and his POV didn't always add enough new information to make those scenes feel fresh.

I would definitely recommend reading this book alongside book one. I think the experience would be much better, and you wouldn't have to rely on your memory as much as I did.

Overall, this was a good read, and I'm now more than ready to pick up the second book.

I got a free ARC and chose to share my honest thoughts.

[Jade Thomassin · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC READER*
I want to thank the author for the arc and the chance to read this book before it got published.

As for my rating, I give this novella 3.75/5*

This book is in Akadian’s POV and we have the choice to read is in tandem with the first book. I had already read Immortal Origins in March 2025 so I only read this one solo.

I enjoyed reading in his POV, however it got pretty repetitive fast. Akadian only talks about how amazing, beautiful, strong, perfect Ambrose is. After a few chapter I can assure you that we understand what he feels for her🙂

He always wants to protect her, keep her safe, staying by her side but a whole novella of this gets boring fast.

Maybe I would’ve enjoyed it as a tandem read. That’s on me. However if you are someone who enjoy reading the MMC’s POV and you looove a man who is obsessed with his girl, this will be perfect for you!

[Aliyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

ARC REVIEW:
AKADIAN THE MAN THAT YOU ARE AHHHH!!
His POV was so sweet to read he is just SMITTEN FOR HER! Head over heels. I just loved his POV it was GREAT!
He just had me kicking my feet the WHOLE TIME!
Mr “wrong. She’s mine” and “the colour I’ve hated my whole life has become my favourite” LIKE HELLO!!!

This was my FIRST ever tandem read as I did read Immortal Origins alongside this and I cannot lie, tandem reads are not for me personally HOWEVER I still enjoyed both books, I just don’t like the constant swapping over. I would like to add that reading Immortal Origins the second time made me like it more too so that’s great. Still love the magic system, probably one of my favourite magic systems I’ve come across in a book/ book series.


I still hate Casimir and I genuinely want to throat punch him and feed him to rats xxx

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was completely blown away! getting to dive back into this brutal world entirely from akadian’s point of view was an absolute thrill. taryn knightly does a masterful job of giving akadian a voice that feels distinct, dark, and incredibly complex. my absolute favorite part of the experience was switching back and forth between immortal origins and immortal flame. comparing their opposing povs for the exact same scenes added so much depth to the story. seeing akadian’s hidden motivations, his internal torment, and how he truly felt about ambrose from the very beginning completely changed how i view their dynamic. it turns a fantastic slow-burn romance into an obsession.

if you loved book one, you are going to be feral for akadian’s side of the story. i cannot recommend this dual-reading experience enough!

[Emma_bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this after reading book one but it can also be read alongside book one after certain chapters. This is new for me! I do like stories with multiple POV's and although not all POV's are needed in general, I like Akadian's side of things.

We see the Prince slowly fall for Ambrose, his determination to keep her safe from his brother and the trials. It was nice to read this after - for me, as I got reminded of bits in the book I'd lost track of!

I do like the writing style of Akadian, the behind the scenes as it were of his thoughts and feelings towards his peers in the hierarchy but also towards Ambrose.

A good read and I'm looking forward to hearing other peoples' thoughts when this is available to read alongside book one!

I'm enjoying this series so will keep an eye out for the next one!

[Katie Eakins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and listened to Immortal Origins and I was one of the readers who wanted to know what was going on with Akadian (thank you 🤭) and let me tell you, I was not let down! Not only could I envision everything so much more clearly this time around, but this man, oh this man!! The respect, the awe, the YEARNING. 😮‍💨 Then, of course, you find out a little more behind the scenes with what they know that we didn’t to begin with, what’s going on behind the scenes, how that trial scene happened (iykyk). The only thing I could say is that this CAN be read alone, but even I was almost a little lost a time or two before the story clicked back in to place so I definitely recommend either reading as a 1.5 or as a tandem read, but either way, read it!! Huge thanks to Taryn Knightly for the advanced copy, and for real, this series in general!

[Thompoezer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the different perspective that the book gives, i would have liked it that i knew this book need to be read at the same time as book 1 that makes it so the plot is easier to follow. In my case it had been a while between book 1 and book 1.5.

Like the book said i was still able to follow the story but sometimes i had trouble whit where we were in the story since it feld like i missed some parts what completely makes sence if you read them at the same time.

My 3 star need to be a 3.5 star and would probably be a 4 if i had read this book at the same time as book one. Im not going up to a 4.5 because at some point it felt like there was a chapter added just to be added. It didnt give much backstory and there were some gramatical mistakes in there. Maybe they are fixed at the final copy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mel Leroux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Immortal Flame is told from the MMC's perspective and revisits the events of Immortal Origins through his eyes.
I really enjoyed reading this novella, although I can't help but wish these chapters had been included in the first book. Even so, it was a great way to revisit the story since I first read Immortal Origins last year. Because it's a quick read, it almost felt like a Cole's Notes recap, reminding me of all the important moments before I jump into Immortal Secrets.
If you're planning to continue the series, I think this is a fun little addition that helps bridge the gap between books while giving more insight into the MMC's thoughts and motivations. It definitely got me excited to start the next book.

[Toni Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the alternative POV from Akadian. I reread immortal origins before reading immortal flame. I didn’t know about the tandem read until afterwards. I had a lot of questions at the end of origins but some of the things have been answered but I still got ALOT of questions. Parts make more sense now though. That little bonus chapter at the end. Things are about to get very interesting. Can’t wait for book 2. I want to see where their journey lead. But I also want to get to know Magnus and lily more. It would be interesting to see how Ambrose’s training continues from here. I can’t wait

I recieved this as an arc through the author and book sirens which I am very thankful for and I’m leaving this review voluntarily x

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

So thankful to have received an ARC of this!

I loved the first book. LOVED IT. I wanted more from Akadian's POV. He was for the most part very mysterious in book one. I will say some of the chapters were a little repetitious as you are supposed to read it in tandem with book one and some of the chapters were so similar because we did have some Akadian POV in book 1. We still got those chapters in this 1.5 and there seemed to be very little different to them.

I do not like tandem reads and have actually only done it this one time the whole way through and I will say that 1.5 gave us more romance. Which I NEEDED. Ambrose was so focused on living that she never realized her feelings till the very end. Well done addition and one that I am excited to add to my Shelf.

[Stacy Ashley]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love this series. I highly recommend reading this in the manner the author intended, as a side by side to the first book. It will make the story much better because the world and other characters are built in the first book. I however did not and still enjoyed it since I could remember most of it. Reading the different POV is always a bonus for me because I love seeing a story from all sides and finding out things that weren't in the first one. I could feel all the love, hate and in between being described and it just pulled me in. I'm excited for the next in the series. There some mistakes in places where the wrong words are used.

[ISlaySharks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy

Um excuse me ? The yearning Akadian has for his Rose was just so gosh darn acquisitive longing itch that the Taryn understood the assignment.

It was extremely nice reading this as a refresher for book two that will be coming out. I highly recommend reading Immortal Flame first before reading the novel in Akadian’s POV or even just reading as a tandem read. The chapters headers tell exactly where to switch between both books.

It was very refreshing seeing Akadian’s pov of the major events that happened in book one, more depth and how complicated emotional layered of who he is with his thoughts and ideas. It added so much to the story along with the added additional scenes.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immortal Flame Chronicles of the Immortal Trials: Book 1.5 was such a fun way to revisit the story from the first book and I feel truly lucky to have been given the chance of reviewing this ARC for free. Reading this from Akadian's perspective and remembering important events throughout the first book from someone else's eyes added so much more depth and made me appreciate the story all over again. Ambrose still remains one of the few FMC's who never gets on my nerves and she's just as compelling and likeable from Akadian's point of view. This is such a good tandem read, it felt like I have had the chance to read it all over again for the first time and I'm looking forward to what happens next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Beloved · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great accompanying book for book 1 in this series!

This book isn’t a new story, but it takes book 1 and gives us the MMCs perspective of the events we already know. It has a unique voice and slowly builds feelings and motives.

It gives some additional information about the magic system, pantheon and background that I imagine will be quite important in book 2 if the series.

Additionally, since it is written in the MMCs POV, it gives a more rounded picture of some epic scenes and helps us really understand why he acts the way he does.

I read this ARC as a refresher before diving into book 2 and it was such a good idea!
Can’t wait to see how the story continues (and am rooting for some more of Akadians POV) 😜

[Tammy Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you again Taryn for allowing me the opportunity again to read one of your books ahead of time.

What a fun little journey (again) with this book!! I loved going back to this world but through the eyes and POV of Akadian. Who would have thought that he had a pull to Ambrose so soon. I loved seeing the events that we had with Ambrose in Immortal Origins but through Akadian. It made me love and feel so much more invested. But I also just love Akadian. I cannot wait to see where this story continues.

There were some grammatical errors throughout that I hope are fixed before full publication but it was easy to overlook those because I love the story.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Immortal Flame” is a powerful, character-driven addition to The Chronicles of The Immortal Trials, offering a deeper look into Akadian, the brooding fire prince. Told from his perspective, this novella adds emotional depth and reshapes how you see both the character and the world of Almuria.

The world-building remains strong, with a rigid class system and a fascinating magic structure based on elemental mana and social classification. The Immortal Trials continue to deliver high-stakes tension, blending danger with political intrigue.

What truly stands out is the dynamic between Akadian and Ambrose. Their forbidden, slow-burn connection brings heart and intensity to the story, layered with themes of fate, power, and rebellion.

Although this short but impactful story was provided as an ARC, I am pleased to leave this review voluntarily. “Immortal Flame” feels essential rather than optional—perfect for readers who love elemental magic, morally gray characters, and high-stakes fantasy romance.