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Spirit Fire
I’m not just chasing ghosts—I’m hunting the truth that haunts me.
My earliest memory? Being picked up off a sidewalk at sixteen with no clue of who I was, where I came from, or why no one reported me missing.
Then, five years later, a dark-haired stranger shows up at a Halloween party, says my name like he knows me, and poof—I’m yanked through a portal and dropped into a life I never imagined.
Apparently, I’m not just some random lost girl—I’m a witch.
In a small town full of secrets, snarky familiars, and power-hungry covens, my magic is waking. The witches of the Emberwood coven want me gone, but carrying the bloodline of one of the founding families makes me an Emberwood Elite.
I won’t be cast out of my life a second time, and goddess help anyone who tries.
They think not having control of my powers makes me an easy mark. I’m going to find out what happened to my family and show them how wrong they are.
If you like sassy heroines, loyal friends, found family, and a paranormal mystery with a side of flirty chaos, grab Spirit Fire today and get portaled into Emberwood—where the magic bites back.
My earliest memory? Being picked up off a sidewalk at sixteen with no clue of who I was, where I came from, or why no one reported me missing.
Then, five years later, a dark-haired stranger shows up at a Halloween party, says my name like he knows me, and poof—I’m yanked through a portal and dropped into a life I never imagined.
Apparently, I’m not just some random lost girl—I’m a witch.
In a small town full of secrets, snarky familiars, and power-hungry covens, my magic is waking. The witches of the Emberwood coven want me gone, but carrying the bloodline of one of the founding families makes me an Emberwood Elite.
I won’t be cast out of my life a second time, and goddess help anyone who tries.
They think not having control of my powers makes me an easy mark. I’m going to find out what happened to my family and show them how wrong they are.
If you like sassy heroines, loyal friends, found family, and a paranormal mystery with a side of flirty chaos, grab Spirit Fire today and get portaled into Emberwood—where the magic bites back.
- GenresParanormalFantasyRomance
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2025
About the author
Auburn Tempest
107 books192 followersAbout Auburn Tempest
Auburn Tempest is a pen name for JL Madore, a multi-genre novelist giving life to Fantasy, Paranormal, and Sci-Fi Romance. Under the pen name, Auburn Tempest, she writes Urban Fantasy without the sexy-steamy. But whether Romance or not, she loves to twist Alpha heroes and kick-ass heroines into chaotic, hilarious, fast-paced, magical situations and make them really work for their happy endings.
She lives outside of Toronto, Canada with her love of over 35 years and a menagerie of family, friends, and animals.
To learn more, you can follow her at:
https://www.facebook.com/ReadersofAub...
http://www.jlmadore.com
http://www.twitter.com/jlmadore
Auburn Tempest is a pen name for JL Madore, a multi-genre novelist giving life to Fantasy, Paranormal, and Sci-Fi Romance. Under the pen name, Auburn Tempest, she writes Urban Fantasy without the sexy-steamy. But whether Romance or not, she loves to twist Alpha heroes and kick-ass heroines into chaotic, hilarious, fast-paced, magical situations and make them really work for their happy endings.
She lives outside of Toronto, Canada with her love of over 35 years and a menagerie of family, friends, and animals.
To learn more, you can follow her at:
https://www.facebook.com/ReadersofAub...
http://www.jlmadore.com
http://www.twitter.com/jlmadore
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 4, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
2.25
I almost DNF at page 220 when it had turned into an Academy book, I do not like that type of book.
I usually like the author so thought I could deal with it, but just the arrival at the academy put me off. But after a little break I decided to skim read through the IMHO academy crap After about 130 or so pages, we head back to the town setting.
I feel like it was a bait and switch for about one third of the book, given the synopsis didn't mention the MC being sent to an academy!
I was enjoying it until it switched to the academy setting. I didn't like the typical academy rubbish, and then we got back to town and I thought it would pick up but then we have the below...
Typing as read now, not really a great sign.
Um MC has the right to feel like a victim, because she was one! She had her powers bound , her memory wiped and was dumped on the streets of a far away city, at 16! -- And of course she feels bad now for the jerk.
Sure its bad that the jerk, who looks like he'll be the love interest also lost his mom at that time. But he didn't get his powers bound etc.
So I'm annoyed at the MC for letting his rant get to her. She was an innocent victim, after losing both parents, he just lost his mom then his life was still his life, with his powers etc. They are in no way equal, he was never victimised just for being who he was, unlike the MC.
It's been 2 weeks, of her learning about the life that was stolen from her, but apparently she's selfish because she didn't in that short span of time consider the families of those who died with her mother... No, he's selfish for being a total jerk to a victim of his coven, who had her life destroyed and was thrown onto the streets of a strange city, with no memory or powers so a totally defenceless 16, for her mother's 'crime'.
Considering he also was the jerk who Why would any reasonable person be thinking 'gee he must have a sad backstory, to do what he did to me' no you're thinking he's a bad guy because he acts like one and honestly 2 weeks of shocking revaluations isn't much time to then start thinking about the other people involved, beyond your also missing younger sisters!
An MC can be a nice person, without being a doormat and taking the blame for something that's not even that bad. They were both 'casualties' of the event, but only the MC, of her and jerk, was then further victimised by the coven and endangered by them. Fine MC be the 'bigger' person... its obvious he does mean what she's hoping he doesn't, he still think the coven is blameless and its head priestess is all good.
It got better, while I'm still not keen on the love interest, I don't want him to die painfully so I'll probably give book 2 a try.
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Probably
Would you recommend?: Not really if you also dislike Academy books -- Yes if you actually like those.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
2.25
I almost DNF at page 220 when it had turned into an Academy book, I do not like that type of book.
I usually like the author so thought I could deal with it, but just the arrival at the academy put me off. But after a little break I decided to skim read through the IMHO academy crap After about 130 or so pages, we head back to the town setting.
I feel like it was a bait and switch for about one third of the book, given the synopsis didn't mention the MC being sent to an academy!
I was enjoying it until it switched to the academy setting. I didn't like the typical academy rubbish, and then we got back to town and I thought it would pick up but then we have the below...
Typing as read now, not really a great sign.
Um MC has the right to feel like a victim, because she was one! She had her powers bound , her memory wiped and was dumped on the streets of a far away city, at 16! -- And of course she feels bad now for the jerk.
Sure its bad that the jerk, who looks like he'll be the love interest also lost his mom at that time. But he didn't get his powers bound etc.
So I'm annoyed at the MC for letting his rant get to her. She was an innocent victim, after losing both parents, he just lost his mom then his life was still his life, with his powers etc. They are in no way equal, he was never victimised just for being who he was, unlike the MC.
It's been 2 weeks, of her learning about the life that was stolen from her, but apparently she's selfish because she didn't in that short span of time consider the families of those who died with her mother... No, he's selfish for being a total jerk to a victim of his coven, who had her life destroyed and was thrown onto the streets of a strange city, with no memory or powers so a totally defenceless 16, for her mother's 'crime'.
Considering he also was the jerk who Why would any reasonable person be thinking 'gee he must have a sad backstory, to do what he did to me' no you're thinking he's a bad guy because he acts like one and honestly 2 weeks of shocking revaluations isn't much time to then start thinking about the other people involved, beyond your also missing younger sisters!
An MC can be a nice person, without being a doormat and taking the blame for something that's not even that bad. They were both 'casualties' of the event, but only the MC, of her and jerk, was then further victimised by the coven and endangered by them. Fine MC be the 'bigger' person... its obvious he does mean what she's hoping he doesn't, he still think the coven is blameless and its head priestess is all good.
It got better, while I'm still not keen on the love interest, I don't want him to die painfully so I'll probably give book 2 a try.
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Probably
Would you recommend?: Not really if you also dislike Academy books -- Yes if you actually like those.
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
March 26, 2026
DNF
Page one and I’m already unimpressed. I’ve been a female for 30 odd years and never one said to a friend, “Are you having fun, girlfriend?” Not. Once. Nor have I had a male best friend (gay or otherwise) say, “Wisdom of the ages, girlfriend.” The dialogue in this is atrocious.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this book is from the early 2000’s considering that’s the last time anyone the phrase “the bomb” or “peeps”.
There’s already errors in chapter one, mostly character placement continuity, and far too much old school slang for a brand new book.
There’s definitely not enough freaking out (as in none at all) from our MCs when they’re transported from a party to a haunted mansion that seems alive.
In chapter eight, the FMC describes the town with far more knowledge than she should have, considering she has no memory of it, and it’s her first outing. She then describes the personalities and jobs of various townspeople she’s never met before. This is just sloppy writing. Until the character is introduced to people, she shouldn’t know anything about them other than their appearance.
This book is just…not great. Major parts of the plot are glossed over, like her recently unlocked powers trying to explode out of her, yet we get half a chapter of her working at the diner that does nothing for the plot.
There are major grammatical errors. Destain and disdain are nowhere close to being similar.
At 34% this suddenly becomes an “academy” book. I’m so over this trope and I noped right out.
Page one and I’m already unimpressed. I’ve been a female for 30 odd years and never one said to a friend, “Are you having fun, girlfriend?” Not. Once. Nor have I had a male best friend (gay or otherwise) say, “Wisdom of the ages, girlfriend.” The dialogue in this is atrocious.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this book is from the early 2000’s considering that’s the last time anyone the phrase “the bomb” or “peeps”.
There’s already errors in chapter one, mostly character placement continuity, and far too much old school slang for a brand new book.
There’s definitely not enough freaking out (as in none at all) from our MCs when they’re transported from a party to a haunted mansion that seems alive.
In chapter eight, the FMC describes the town with far more knowledge than she should have, considering she has no memory of it, and it’s her first outing. She then describes the personalities and jobs of various townspeople she’s never met before. This is just sloppy writing. Until the character is introduced to people, she shouldn’t know anything about them other than their appearance.
This book is just…not great. Major parts of the plot are glossed over, like her recently unlocked powers trying to explode out of her, yet we get half a chapter of her working at the diner that does nothing for the plot.
There are major grammatical errors. Destain and disdain are nowhere close to being similar.
At 34% this suddenly becomes an “academy” book. I’m so over this trope and I noped right out.
January 25, 2026
I went back and forth on this one. I wasn't looking for a YA book and this one was pretty much focused there. From the 16-year-old "on the street" sagas to the Academy training (brief though it was), through bullying and lots and lots of lying. Some minor romance angst. I was initially glad the best friend wasn't going to be another gay, until he was. Can't a guy and girl be best friends without one or the other being gay? Bits of action as it got to the ending but plenty of political ho-ha to mess it up. Not certain about the demon familiar and the binding. I'm certain the hunt for her sisters will be primary storylines along with the demon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
Found family
Poppy and her best friend Ash are just living a normal life, except she has no memory before the age of 16, when the unexpected happens and her whole life changes. She discovers that she is a witch, that the supernatural world exists, and demons are trying to enter our world. As per usual with Auburn Tempest's books, the characters, both good and bad, are amazing. Her storylines pull you in, make you laugh and cry, and won't let go, and when you finish the book you are sad because you have to wait for the next one to come out.
Poppy and her best friend Ash are just living a normal life, except she has no memory before the age of 16, when the unexpected happens and her whole life changes. She discovers that she is a witch, that the supernatural world exists, and demons are trying to enter our world. As per usual with Auburn Tempest's books, the characters, both good and bad, are amazing. Her storylines pull you in, make you laugh and cry, and won't let go, and when you finish the book you are sad because you have to wait for the next one to come out.
December 5, 2025
I went into this book a bit nervous at the start I'll admit as on first glance the concept of the book is very similar to countless other books. But I was greatly surprised!
I really liked our main character and found her grounded as well as her friend group. The romance came out of nowhere but strangely, it didn't bother me.
The wordlbuilding was scarce, not going in depth or beyond the basics but it has so much potential.
I really liked our main character and found her grounded as well as her friend group. The romance came out of nowhere but strangely, it didn't bother me.
The wordlbuilding was scarce, not going in depth or beyond the basics but it has so much potential.
January 13, 2026
I liked this, I was a little unsure at the start, even though it is a really good story, it seems a bit much having a demon familiar who doesn't anything, binding Poppy to a demon lord who did nothing to stop them dealing with the demons, even if it was a distraction. I like Asher and the other people she connects with. Wylder too. The book has potential, but I question whether she would have been allowed to regain powers with the demon mark. I like the idea of founding her own coven.
May 5, 2026
Witches and pulling teeth
Lost memories are a good start. A gay man and a cis normal witch interesting. A town of supernatural and normal beings, not so far from the usual. A school for magic in a bubble universe is familiar yet different. The most unusual and fantastic plot twist is the use of the dentist. That made my molars ache. Wish I had more of my own teeth to chew on the other plot twists and turns. Beyond the shadow of my doubt, this book was truly worth reading.
Lost memories are a good start. A gay man and a cis normal witch interesting. A town of supernatural and normal beings, not so far from the usual. A school for magic in a bubble universe is familiar yet different. The most unusual and fantastic plot twist is the use of the dentist. That made my molars ache. Wish I had more of my own teeth to chew on the other plot twists and turns. Beyond the shadow of my doubt, this book was truly worth reading.
January 2, 2026
fun and fast paced
Really interesting start to a series. Loved the characters and their stories and how they all mesh together. There is laughter and family building as they learn the world they’re thrown into. Race against demons, witches, shifters United. Very interested in what is coming next
Really interesting start to a series. Loved the characters and their stories and how they all mesh together. There is laughter and family building as they learn the world they’re thrown into. Race against demons, witches, shifters United. Very interested in what is coming next
December 8, 2025
I really like Poppy and her friend Ash. Even though Ash is a non-magical he is there for support for Poppy. Ash is right there with her when she finds out what happened to her parents and her siblings. After she takes care of the demon problem, she would like to go find her siblings. I will read the next book in the series.
December 7, 2025
I can't wait for book 2
This had everything I could want in a new series. Even if, like urban druid, it makes me want to die of jealousy for the close knit friends who become family. Everyone should have a best friend who's always there. But not many people do.
This had everything I could want in a new series. Even if, like urban druid, it makes me want to die of jealousy for the close knit friends who become family. Everyone should have a best friend who's always there. But not many people do.
March 28, 2026
Nice written story
This twitchy tale has enough magic to hold you into the story. I enjoyed it and hope you will also.
This twitchy tale has enough magic to hold you into the story. I enjoyed it and hope you will also.
May 3, 2026
Love this new series!
As always, Auburn Tempest has created a wonderful witchy world with colorful and funny characters. Looking forward to more from this series.
As always, Auburn Tempest has created a wonderful witchy world with colorful and funny characters. Looking forward to more from this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews