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Orchid on Fire: Book One of the Path Between Realms

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Infiltrate his castle. Steal the relic. Instead, she’s claimed by the prince fated to ruin her.

Ellandria, the lost heir of Orchid, grew up fearing Dravaryn and the ruthless bloodline that ruled it. Yet into that very kingdom she must go to claim the relic promised in prophecy, the one hope she has to save her own. Her mission collapses when she is captured by Prince Jakobav, the dangerous heir whose forbidden magic unsettles even those sworn to him.

He should kill her, but he doesn’t.

Wounded in Dravaryn and cut off from her fire powers, Ellandria must navigate forgotten Fae magic awakening across the realms, hidden truths, and a prince who watches her with lethal intensity. Every stolen moment between them deepens a pull she cannot explain and should not want.

Ellandria is forced to question everything she was taught about her enemy kingdom. And she must decide who to trust before the realm unravels.

If you love spice wrapped in slow-burn tension, razor-sharp banter, enemies-to-lovers heat, and found-family dynamics where every character leaves a mark, Orchid On Fire will be your next obsession. With a unique magic system, aching restraint, and just enough forced proximity to set every page alight, this is a romantasy that lingers long after the final line.

457 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

13 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

L. R. Mirelle

1 book4 followers
L. R. Mirelle writes romantic fantasy filled with forbidden magic, dangerous princes, sharp banter, and slow-burn tension.

Her debut novel, Orchid on Fire, is the first book in The Path Between Realms series, a story of enemies drawn together by fate, blood-bound magic, and the unraveling of ancient worlds.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting her next realm, raising the stakes, or making readers fall for characters they maybe shouldn’t trust.

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5 stars
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8 (32%)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for RedFireLady.
94 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 2, 2026
What's Inside:
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family
🔥 Slow Burn
😨 YUMMY tension/yearning
😍 He falls first and harder
☠️ Touch Her and Die
🦴 Possessive
😆 BANTER!!!!
🌚 Morally Grey
🌶 Spice 🫠

AH-MAZE-ING!
Any of you that actually watch my reviews know that I dont give out a ton of 5 stars. Most books fall in the 3-4 star range and only a select few get 5 stars.. Those that just sink their hooks into me and wont let go. The ones that I cant put down and cant stop thinking about...
Orchid on Fire deserves every single one of these 5 stars, and more.

L.R. Mirelle has hit the scene with a stand out "hold my beer" moment with this impressive debut novel. This is a well written and immersive romantasy that will keep you guessing trying to put all the pieces together, while keeping you captivated with the characters and the story.

We follow Ellandria (Ella), our FMC, who is trying to fulfill a prophecy to save her people and her realm. On a quest to find the elusive relic from the prophecy, she finds herself in enemy territory... and instead of capturing the relic she is hunting, she is captured by the enemy prince, Jakobav (Jake), instead.

What follows after is a story of tension and yearning, learning that maybe her enemy is not what she has been taught that they are, found family, secrets and Easter eggs in the plot that kept me guessing trying to piece it all together.
It's clear that Ella has secrets that even the reader doesnt fully know, and while we are trying to sort all of that out, we also have the mysterious Fae male that pops up and kept me guessing just where he plays into all of this

The tension between Ella and Jake is ON POINT. The banter and the laugh-out-loud lines in this book are just too freaking good!

“He’s always like that, you know... Tragic. Handsome. Useless at parties.”

“You know what they say about keeping your enemies closer…” His mouth curved into a slow, menacing smile. “And I’ve been keeping you in my bed.”

“By the seven sacred hemorrhoids, Ella, you’re always wanting answers.”

It's not just Jake and Ella that make this story, the side characters bring a LOT and I can see possible a spin-off series for more than one. This book drew me in and did not let me go. At no point did it feel slow or did I feel like I was disconnecting from the story or the characters.

This is going to be a breakout debut for 2026. Add this to your TBR NOW. Preorder the book and get your hands on this beauty. The cover is gorgeous and the story is sure to catch fire and light up the book community.

Thank you to L.R. Mirelle for the absolute honor of being able to ARC read this book before everyone else discovers this treasure. I am definitely committed to this series for the long haul and cannot wait for the next book!!!
Profile Image for Dark Bedroom Books.
148 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy
December 31, 2025
Quotes:
“Because something in you tastes like it was written into my blood, and I always claim what’s mine.”
“You slipped past me like a whisper of chaos. A lesser man would’ve been offended. I was aroused.”
“Neither of us belongs fully to the gifts of our kingdoms. So we make our own path.”

ARC Review. No Spoilers.

This might be the strangest way I’ve ever chosen a book... First, the cover called to me - I love orchids, been growing them for years, and even have an orchid tattoo. I’m so glad I followed my curiosity!

I can’t shake the feeling that this is a dark tale. A dark tale with depth and meaning beneath the fantasy.

This story made me think about those moments in life when we’re placed into something bigger than ourselves, asked to fulfill the designs of fate, willingly or not. When we have to work with what we’re given and draw strength from places we never thought existed. Each of us plays a role in the world, and every role matters. And if fate decides to add a prince charming along the way… well, that path becomes a little more bearable and even lighter, easier...

I truly enjoyed the writing and the worldbuilding, but what stayed with me the most were the characters. The found family. The circle of friends and loyal fighters, each one important in their own way. The banter, the trust, the humor, the good hearts, and their own stories and history. I would love to be surrounded by people like them.

At the center of it all is FMC Ella - facing loss, change, transformation… and love.
And then there’s Jakobav. Oh, the man… A solid wall of power, made to protect, to fight and to hold when everything else is falling apart.
The tension between them? That we-can’t-but-touch-me-please energy. Charged. The pull, the need, the hunger… it boiled my bl00d.

Ella’s journey is captivating throughout, but the Rite… wow... That moment will stay with me for a long time…

And still, there’s so much left to uncover. So many secrets waiting beneath the surface. I’m truly intrigued by this world, and of course, I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you @booksirens for this wonderful ARC - it was worth every second!

Fantasy Romance • Ancient Magic • Prophecy • Dangerous Rite • Fae & Humans • Slow Burn • Found Family • 3rd Person POV • Debut • 18+ / TW

⭐ 4/5 | 🌶 2/5
248 reviews9 followers
December 17, 2025
5⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book!

This was fan-freaking-tastic!!! What a debut novel!

The story brings you right in and doesn’t stop.

Our FMC, Ella, is the lost heir to her kingdom. Lost, in the sense that she ran a few years ago due to a prophecy she is trying to fulfill to save her land. She needs a relic and it’s brought her to an enemy kingdom to find. But plans never go the way you expect and she is captured by Jakobav (Jake), the crown prince. He can’t know who she is, but they’re so drawn to each other, keeping secrets becomes harder and harder. And they both have secrets to keep. For Ella too, this strange man keeps appearing in her dreams, and he’s more possessive for a person she doesn’t even know.

The veil between realms keeps splitting and monsters from the other side keep leaking through. It’s her destiny to help close this veil for good and needs the help of not only Jake, but his closest friends too.

The banter between Ella and Jake is fantastic! Add in his friends too and it’s just a good time all around!

This is slow burn but the connection is 🔥 right away, don’t get me wrong! The spice?? 🌶️ whew 🥵 this was some fantastic written spice! I always look for dialogue during spicy scenes, not just describing the scene and this delivered on that.

This book isn’t even out yet and I’m already needing book 2! Such a great debut novel and I’m excited and nervous to see where we go next!!!
5 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2026
Orchid On Fire is a truly unputdownable romantasy, I tried to pace myself but simply couldn’t. It is the type of book that pulls you in right from the start and keeps you hooked until the very last page (and after) effortlessly earning all 5 stars.

Including all of the best elements - a strong-minded FMC, a broody and reluctantly obsessed MMC, a beautiful found family you really grow attached to, a never-ending well of witty banter and humor, a deliciously tension filled slow burn, a unique and well developed magic system, solid world building, world ending prophecy and fate, grief, secrets and emotional suspense, I absolutely devoured this one!

Beautifully written, it is set in a world of warring kingdoms where magic thrums beneath the soil and throughout the veil. Ella, our FMC, receives a prophecy of the tearing of the veil and is alone tasked with finding a relic in a rival kingdom to save the mortal world. Throughout her journey, she finds pieces of herself, her own power and place in the world, as well as love with serious complications. With deeper themes of overcoming loss and self doubt, Ella and her unshakable resilience is the perfect FMC.

Additionally we cross paths with a broody, reluctantly obsessed and protective MMC, Jakobav, who is the epitome of reliable strength and discipline; as well as a cast of charming, loyal and truly lovable supporting characters.

I honestly fell in love with the supporting characters just as much as the FMC and MMC and that’s really saying a lot; from Bryn the healers constant antics to Thane’s flirtatious humor I grew attached to so many characters in this story and the found family aspect is slowly and intentionally developed. I also must add, I loved the amount of strong women, from the FMC to some of the supporting characters there was no shortage of witty strong women to choose from and it added that extra touch for me.

This is the slow burn of all slow burns! I really cannot stress that enough, this is one of the best slow burns I have ever read; the angsty build up and absolutely golden banter is unmatched. This is the kind of slow burn that leaves you giggling and kicking your feet and needing to get up and walk around when the tension finally snaps. If you are a slow burn connoisseur like myself, this is a MUST READ.

I do need to leave a warning, this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger and the emotional turmoil is unbearable! I don’t know what I’m even hoping for, there was always an unresolved problem and yet it still caught me off guard. Don’t read this if you don’t want to give up a portion of your brain and a chip of your soul waiting for book two.
Profile Image for LibraryOfMarta.
33 reviews
January 1, 2026
Definitely a 5✨ !

A page-turner ! Just W.O.W🤩🤯

Ellandria is the lost heir of Orchid, driven by a prophecy that says she must find a relic or lose her kingdom. She crosses into enemy territory to get her hands on the relic but instead ends up captured by Jakobav, the Prince of Dravaryn (criminally good name🥵). Everything she’s been taught says he should be cruel. He isn’t. He’s dangerous, magnetic, secretive… and far too tempting.

The tension between them is INREAL. Every interaction feels loaded, every glance sharp, every moment slow-burning and irresistible.

*** His eyes darkened, steady and unflinching. “I can think of a few things far more entertaining when it comes to you.” ***

*** “Do not make me your villain.” ***

*** “But please, feel free to try. I’ll even stop and hold still… let you burn me however you like.” ***

Jakobav carries forbidden magic, and Ella soon learns her own fire magic is only the surface of something ancient, forgotten, and feared.

Ancient magic is waking. Veils are cracking. Monsters are slipping through. And somehow, Ella and Jakobav are at the center of it all—caught between prophecy, power, and a pull they can’t ignore.

Dangerous side effect of her new capabilities : she starts sleep-talking to a grumpy Fae who definitely should not exist… and who seems to think she already belongs to him😩🔥

🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Fire magic
🩸Blood magic
⚔️ Fight against monsters
🔮 Hidden powers
🗝️ Secrets and Lies
😆 BANNNTER😆
💀 Touch her and die
❤️ He falls first and harder !

And that ending ?! WTF ??! I am stunned🤯 and the opening for 👀 who does she end up with ???
I can feel it in my bones ! Book 1 was fabulous, but I swear what what comes next will blow our minds🔥
Thank you L.R Mirelle and BookSirens for the gifted eARC❤️
Profile Image for Lauren Goodman.
2 reviews
January 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
SPOILER FREE
This book is everything I want from a romantasy.

The magic system is genuinely new and thoughtfully constructed. It’s woven naturally into the world and the plot, with clear rules and high stakes that actually matter.
The romance between the FMC & MMC is a perfect slow burn: emotionally charged, tension-filled, and deeply tied to the characters’ growth. The chemistry feels earned, not rushed, and the emotional payoff is incredibly satisfying. Bonus points for characters who feel flawed, human, and easy to root for.
The romance and fantasy side- overshadows the other and both elevate the story. This became an easy five-star read for me.

If you love romantasy with a fresh magic system, high emotional stakes, and an ending that leaves you chomping at the bits for the next book then this is the book for you.

Cheers to our new author-L.R. Mirelle 🩷
I can’t wait to see what you write next.

Also please hurry because the ENDING-WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!? I have to know!!!
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 23, 2025
I loved this book! 4.5⭐️ It’s on par with ACOTAR & Fourth Wing for me…you fall for the characters, the world building is just enough, and the magic system is slowly well-defined. Things happen quickly in the beginning, so you’re hooked from the first page, trying to thread pieces together…when they finally are, you’re left with answers but also more questions that I just know will make the next book just as good, if not better! There is just enough of a slow burn that when something finally gets set on fire, it has you kicking your feet and screaming internally! I need more, and cannot wait for the rest of this story!!!
Profile Image for Brittany Watson.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 24, 2025
This was such an easy book to fall into. The fast chapters and writing that’s easy to get into make it incredibly bingeable, and the story moves in a way that keeps you wanting just one more chapter.

I especially loved the strong female main character, Ellandria (Ella), and the clarity of the plot—everything is easy to follow without feeling overwhelming, which makes this a great entry point for readers newer to fantasy or romantasy.

This book would be perfect for anyone trying to break out of a reading slump or for readers who want to experience that feeling of falling in love for the first time again. A really enjoyable read!
57 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 24, 2025
Things I loved:

World-building, found family, enemies to allies, and strong character consistency.

Our MFC is fiery and unapologetic about it. She’s a stabby female with the skills to back it up—and throughout the entire book, her character stays true to who she is.

My only downside was a few heavily tropey moments, which may totally be your thing depending on your taste.

Overall, this is a really good fantasy read, and I’m excited to continue the series… because that ending had me biting my nails. There are also a few spicy scenes that are easy to skip, if that’s your preference.
11 reviews
December 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am so glad I took the plunge on it! It honestly had me hooked from page one. There’s slow-burn romance, found family and laugh out loud banter between the characters. I appreciated a FMC that wasn’t helpless and whiny and can’t wait for the release of the physical copy!

There were some details in the book that drew me away from the storyline a bit and some loose ends that were maybe tied up too quickly…but otherwise a super enjoyable read for me!
Profile Image for Elizabeth .
22 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy
December 15, 2025
Fantastic 5 star read.
The story was amazing filled with slow burn tension and spicy romance.
The plot with all the amazing twists and turns and mysteries was fabulous.
I love the characters and the new found family and cannot wait to see where this troy leads. Kudos to this author for what I predict will be a TOP TIER read for 2026. Hoping for a trilogy and some POVs along the way. I can already see some side characters with their own novellas.
ADD to the top of your TBR immediately
Profile Image for Laura Taylor.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 30, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book and I am so grateful I did. It was consistently good from start to finish and had me hooked. The authors writing is so descriptive it felt like you were really there and the world building was so good. I really liked the characters as I felt they all brought something to the book. The FMC was probably one of my favourites as she was strong willed and not flakey. Also if you like a good book boyfriend you are in for a treat. There was a good amount of spice and it lended itself to the plot.

If you like romantasy, enemies to lovers, morally grey but protective of what’s his, this is a must for you. I would recommend this book and am hoping there’ll be a next one 😁
Profile Image for Tanya Davis.
51 reviews
Review of advance copy
December 27, 2025
CHOMPING AT THE BID FOR BOOK 2

This book had it all. Magic, secrets, a slow burn that turned to just the right spice. I loved Ella’s growth in this book and can’t wait to see where it goes in the rest of this series. Also, the found family is SO GOOD. The magic system was super interesting and the cliffhanger has me ready for book 2 like yesterday.

Thank you to BookSirens and L. R. Mirelle for this ARC!
Profile Image for Emilee Robbins.
Author 1 book9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 27, 2025
Wow! This was a great read with amazing, lyrical prose; fated love; and all the best tropes! Mirelle does a fantastic job at weaving together the story with meaningful metaphor and quick witted banter.
If you love mysterious magic systems, ominous prophesies, stabby FMCs, and touch her and d!e energy, you’ll love this epic romantasy read!!

Thank you so much for an advanced copy and I can’t wait to read the next two in the trilogy!
Profile Image for Ciera Cooper.
3 reviews
January 2, 2026
Ahh I’m so sad this is over! This book kept me drawn in from the start! I have read a ton of books over the past year and I can’t believe this one singed itself in my brain! Jake and Ella have my heart but there’s so many questions I have going into the second book when it’s released. I honestly can’t say enough about this world. I felt like I was watching a movie. Every scene described to perfection! It’s been a long time since I was this excited about a book! ❤️
Profile Image for Gianna LaMalfa.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 22, 2025
Loved this book! Such a fun read and amazing world building 🤗 If you love a slow burn and found family this is for you! ❤️
Profile Image for Kristina.
148 reviews
January 1, 2026
This is an incredible debut romantasy - top 5 book for me!!

I loved the banter, with a true enemies to lovers story and there’s the perfect amount of action to help the story flow.

I can’t wait to read book 2!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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