Sparking Fire Out of Fate

Forging Silver into Stars #3

by Brigid Kemmerer

Broken loyalties. Uncertain fates. Two kingdoms hanging in the balance. . . The exhilarating finale in bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer's Forging Silver series will leave readers breathless!

Callyn has grown closer to Queen Lia Mara in Syhl Shallow, bonded by the secret magic they share. But their magic can stay hidden only so long, especially when a dangerous plot on the Queen's life forces Callyn to work with the man who betrayed her.

In Emberfall, Tycho and Jax are struggling to rebuild their connection after months apart, complicated when they learn of Truthbringers causing trouble at the borders. Sent to investigate together, Jax and Tycho soon discover that the rebellious faction has formed a devil's bargain with the magical scravers to destroy human magic once and for all.

When their missions bring them together, Tycho, Jax, and Callyn find themselves facing threats from all sides. With one last chance to save their magic and their kingdoms, they must work together, or lose everything.

War has erupted. Love is tested. And without sacrifice, magic could destroy everyone . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, LGBT, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2026

About the author

Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring romantic fantasy like Warrior Princess Assassin, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Defy the Night, and compelling contemporary romance like Letters to the Lost. Her books have sold over one million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages, finding readers all over the world. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family.

Reviews

[Duchess of Snark]

Please someone tell me when these books will be published because it’s been eighty-four years

[Felix Yaroch · Rating 5 out of 5]

manifesting a Tycho villain arc for the finale
Give that man the straw that broke the camel’s back
And let him break Sephran’s back with it

[Sydney ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm going to miss these characters so much :((
the ending was actually quite satisfying (unlike a vow so bold and deadly) but miss brigid i want more books set in this world please 🤲

p.s. i need more people to read this series!!

[Hannah DCamp]

Gotta add the fact that this doesn't have a release date to my list of things to talk about in therapy 🥲

edit: OK IT HAS ONE NOW, AND A COVER TOO BUT LET'S BE REAL THIS BOOK IS GOING TO CHEW ME UP AND SPIT ME OUT

[Sage]

I would give up my soul if you keep Tycho and Jax together, please I beg you

[Lotte van Leeuwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bawling my eyes out because this is the last time I’ll be in Emberfall and Shyl Shallow. 6 books I got to enjoy these characters, and this world and I will never forget them. I think this is a perfect ending to a great series that will forever have a place in my heart. Can’t wait to reread this in a couple of years.

[Mia 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to this trilogy and one I very much enjoyed! It had been a full year since I read book two, so the beginning felt a little slow as I tried to reorient myself—remembering the characters and where we left off—but once I hit about the 30% mark, I couldn’t put it down.

I loved the characters and the romances, though I do wish we had seen a bit more romance between the main characters like we did in the first two books. One small complaint I’ve had throughout the series is how much time is spent with the characters riding back and forth between cities (since the king and queen rule separate kingdoms), which started to feel repetitive.

I never read the prequel trilogy and don’t really feel the urge to now, but there were definitely moments that hinted at past events that probably would have hit harder if I had. I also found the final battle a little anticlimactic. Still, despite those minor issues, I really loved how everything wrapped up and felt satisfied by the ending!

[Chimeracat]

If Malin dies in this book so do I.

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mohlo to byť pokojne aj dlhšie, ale so samotným koncom som veľmi spokojná ♥️
Ale zároveň som smutná, že už je koniec.
Toto bola séria, ktorá mi hrozne sadla a sú to knihy, ku ktorým sa opakovane vraciam, keď mám čitateľskú alebo inú krízu ♥️
Dúfam že sa do tohto sveta ešte niekdy vrátime 🥺

[Kori Sulewski (korireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge Brigid fan but I’m actually pretty bummed by this. There’s a lot of repetitive plot for most of the book and not a lot of character moments that she writes so well. I don’t like Alek and I love Tycho/Jax but they just sort of make up very easily. Plus the end didn’t really resolve things? Idk I feel like it absolutely should have been longer (where was Rhen?? What about Malin and Sephran?) and overall really shrunk from the expansiveness of book 2.

[S S]

DROP THIS RN AND MY LIFE IS YOURS MRS KEMMERER

[Sanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to have been able to purchase this book a week before release date from my local Barnes and Noble.

In the finale to Kemmerer's Forging Silver into Stars trilogy, we find both kingdoms of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall still very much divided by magic with magic still being feared and the Truthbringers now in a deadly alliance with the scravers--vicious creatures with wings, fangs and claw desperate and eager to take back their magic from the magesmiths at all costs.
To add to the conflict, tensions between our main characters are deep--Jax and Tycho struggle to reconcile and navigate their relationship after months apart while Callyn and Alec must work together among growing feelings and betrayal to protect the queen.

This was a very fast-paced, nice conclusion to the series and I especially enjoyed seeing Alec's point of view added in this final book. He was probably my favorite character (aside from Tycho).

There are some intense battle scenes and emotional ones as well. However, I will say the ending felt a bit anticlimactic and I suppose I was expecting more? I also felt the book lacked the romantic element that we saw in the first two books, which was slightly disappointing. With that being said, I did feel like the book left the potential opening for another series set in this world which I would very much like to see with all the old beloved characters and perhaps some new ones too.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this final book and Brigid has always been an auto-buy/auto-read author for me.

[Febe De Fraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What am i gonna do without these characters🥺

[fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t care one bit about Callyn and Alek lol. I was only here for Tycho and Jax (especially Tycho my baby, we really got to see him grow up). It’s kind of bittersweet to finish this series after four years, but I’m really happy with the ending.

Bookish 2026 is off to a great start!

[Lottie (The Disney Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brigid Kemmerer is one of my all-time favourite authors and is always an automatic read for me. Sparking Fire Out of Fate is the fourth book of hers I’ve been lucky enough to provide an advanced review for, and honestly? She is absolutely on fire right now (pun very much intended)!

This book is the final instalment in the Forging Silver series, which follows on so beautifully from the Cursebreaker novels. It’s a series that’s given us a mix of beloved familiar faces and new characters that somehow worm their way into your heart until you’re fully obsessed.

Sparking Fire Out of Fate throws us straight back into Emberfall and Syhl Shallow, dropping us right into the middle of the tension between fractured kingdoms, their estranged monarchs, and our favourite couples; Jax and Tycho, and Callyn and Alek. With the Truthbringers planning what could be the final blow in their rebellion against those who wield magic, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can our characters actually win this war… or are they just trying to survive it?

This book is packed with everything I love about Kemmerer’s writing: drama, tension, and emotion. I was up until 1 a.m. because I had to know how it ended! The character growth across the board is also wonderful to see, with everyone learning more about themselves and finally settling into who they are meant to be.
I also loved how some of the most unexpected characters end up playing a huge role (no spoilers, I promise), and yes, of course, I cried real, big, ugly tears. I always do!

Even though this is the final book in the series, there are so many unresolved areas for the characters that there must be more stories from this world, and I will be the first in line once Brigid announces what’s next. Sparking Fire Out of Fate was simply perfection: a deeply emotional, gripping ending to a series I adored.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read an advanced copy of this amazing novel.

[Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know whether to cry or scream after finishing this. 3 stars feel too high for the level of disappointment it gave me

[RedFoxBookworm]

Please let Sefran die 🥺
Or at least banish him somewhere far, far away from TychoJax (Do they have a proper ship name???)

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so sad this series is over!! I've been a fan since the beginning, and I think it concluded in a really meaningful way. I can't really say too much without giving spoilers, but I love these characters so much. The magic system is well done, and I liked the mix of action and resolution in this installment. The world of Emberfall and Syl Shallow is so rich and immersive, and I'd be lying if I said I was ready to leave these places. Tycho, Jax, and Callyn have my whole heart, and of course, I love seeing Grey and Lia Mara and their family. Brigid's writing is captivating and emotional, and I just love this trilogy so much.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible and satisfying ending to this series! I was really surprised how it ended! But the ending seemed fitting. The whole book was action-packed and fast-paced. I loved the intensity of it all, but I also loved the little moments shared between these characters. All of these characters are so dear to my heart and I mourn saying goodbye to them. This series has been my absolute favorite of Kemmerer’s books. I sincerely hope she will continue to let us live in this world in her future novels!

[Hannah Kinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'm going through withdrawals with this book. Throughout this series, I completely feel in love with these characters and world. Words can't describe the emotions I felt while reading this. Finally getting to see my favorite characters heal and complete their journey was a bittersweet experience. I haven't yet decided if I am satisfied with the ending. It's not something I was expecting, and I feel there were a couple loose ends. This book definitely could have been longer, (not that I'm complaining).
Nakiis's death hurt me way more than I thought it would. Maybe Tycho's grief had a play in that. I honestly loved his character so much, especially how he interacted with Tycho himself. But I also feel like Nakiis's sacrifice was crucial to the plot.
Watching Tycho and Jax grow closer after being apart for so long was agonizing. Both of them were too scared to confront their feelings (mainly Tycho) and too worried about how the other person felt. But it was all worth it to finally see them sit down and talk to each other like the grown adults they are. By the end, it seems like Tycho's couriering days are over which is a huge relief, but I'm a little disappointed we never got that date to silvermoon.
Over all, really good book. Bought this day of release and was not disappointed with the final outcome overall. 4.5/5 stars

[Tiffany Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little slow and repetitive to me, but I flew through the second half once the action started to take place. I liked the ending the characters got, specifically Jax and Tycho, however the premise of this entire series (countries divided about magic) was never really resolved lol. Maybe that is on purpose so there is a potential for this story to continue??

[Seba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m just a little disappointed. I felt like this wrapped up too nicely too quickly (yet also with a lot of questions). I love these characters and expected to see more of the characters interact together for longer but instead I felt like the last 15% was so rushed. Why does everyone magically forgive the conflicts set up in book 2 almost immediately? Where was Rhen? Where was the Tycho/Malin/Sephran reconciliation? What happens to the Truthbringers/scravers if everyone is still afraid of magic?

[Alif · Rating 2 out of 5]

don’t know why but last book in Brigid Kemmerer’s series always feels like filler to me!
this was disappointing too! i was bored because literally nothing happened for most of the book! everything was repetitive! all they did was travelling, bickering and saying “stop stop sorry sorry” 😑 forced myself to finish this!

[no because · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear if callyn falls for aleks gaslighting manipulative crap again I’m gonna tweak out 😭 ALSO MORE JAX AND TYCHO PLS ILL GIVE YOU MY FIRST BORN

[Haley Kohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait for this!!! I loved tycho and Jax omg I’m so glad she put that in! And also…the mega cliffhanger though? Like Jax invites tycho to his room and they go and then it just ENDS??!? Like…how am I supposed to wait a whole year for this 😭

[Gal! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very sentimental towards this series, and this universe in general, so to say that I was feeling emotions nearing the end of this book is a mild understatement. As an aspiring writer myself, FSIS has been a major source of inspiration to help me expand my boundaries, a s try writing new things, especially when it comes to romance. I hold this series - and Cursebreaker’s trilogy too (though for a different reason) very close to my heart, and so of course I have a lot of thoughts.

(This is a giant ramble.)

I went into this book with two expectations: I didn’t think my favorite couple (Jax and Tycho) was going to make it until the end, and that someone was going to die. These expectations were not met how I thought they would be, however.

My favorite couple got the happy ending I ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT PREPARED FOR. Honestly, it’s not much at all, I went into this part of the end convinced that the scene was a dream or hallucination due to the previous battle’s outcome, but when you go into a book expecting your favorites to die and/or face a major tragedy (in this case, one of the love interests getting with someone else was my fear), any happier alternative does take you by surprise. Back tracking just a bit though, the tension buildup, resentment, and ESPECIALLY the yearning between these two leading up to when they actually talk things through is just as amazing as it has been in the previous books - again, especially with that yearning. My only complaint-ish, however, is that it happened a bit fast. The problems and tensions between these two was resolved within the first half of the book, and with one single scene of talking through stuff. With that being said though, the banter, and overall friendly relationship that they generally had following this was really sweet, especially when in the past, these two have sort of only lusted for each other more than anything else in the past.

This book was also much more politically-driven than the first two. Now I personally love some good fantastical politics, and I got my fill of them in this book (yippee!). They really helped me to like a certain character who is very prominent in this installment (Alek, who I still hate, just not as much as before) more than I have in the past. I still hate him, but at least Callyn can make fun of him for being insufferable now.

Speaking of Callyn, I absolutely loved being able to see not just Nora grow up over this time, but Callyn as well. In the past, she really just existed off to the side with all the small children for me, but seeing her put to use all the things she has learned in these years, and becoming more than just a shell of her mother, only there to keep her sister alive practically made me proud of her.

And…I’m sorry, I know it’s very important to the plot and the politics I just said I ate up, but I honestly do not care as much as I should for the Scavers. From the Cursebreaker’s series to this, they just never got my attention as I fear they should have. I do appreciate giving some depth and weakness to them, like with Nakiis and Igaa, however other than that, I couldn’t help but just not feel much remorse towards them. Nakiis does count for the expectation that someone was going to die, too - again, just not who had on my mental list of who’s most likely to die here…lol.


A final list of other things I loved from this book/series but don’t need a full paragraph to explain:

- the language barrier and how it’s exemplified/executed
- the chaos of the ‘meeting’ at the tourney was maybe one of the most entertaining parts of the entire book
- Malin is an icon
- I don’t know if I’m making this up, but is there a pronoun inconsistency from CSIG to here? I swear that I remember Sephran being referred to with they/them pronouns, but they weren’t in this
- speaking of which….I highly despise Sephran and his attitude problem
- what happened to Mercy???
- there is no need for it to be noted that characters are “tending to human needs” four times throughout the book ._.
- the way I chucked this book across the room when the final line was the same as the final one from AVSBAD


And with that, again, I am sad that this series has come to an end. I’m curious whether we’ll see more books at least in this universe, seeing how this ended. I can agree that the ending is rather open-ended, leaving potential for more insight on what many of the characters plan to do now that the main conflict is mostly resolved. I feel this way strongly (As I do with Destroy the day too lol), however I don’t think I should have my heart set on another spinoff.

This is the longest string of thoughts that I have ever written for a book.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars This YA series has been one of my favorites for the last few years, and Sparking Fire Out of Fate was the highly anticipated third and final novel in the trilogy. I finished this book with a vague sense of disappointment, and I feel so confused whether I went in with too high expectations or if this really was a less strong finale (I don’t want to intimate that it was a “weak” book because I still enjoyed it, but it was less than what I had hoped for.)

My thoughts:
-Book 3 is mostly on the road and involves a lot of travelling, which I personally don’t enjoy as much- that’s a me thing.
-Nakiis- he’s barely there. With the way book 2 ended, I thought we’d have more of him and perhaps even see him rally his people to fight against Xovaar.
-Rhen has like 2 lines of dialogue at the beginning of the book. He’s not involved after that. I really loved the blossoming friendship between Rhen and Tycho and possibly even Jax that we saw hinted at in book 2, and I was so disappointed that there was nothing of that in this book.
-Alek- ugh. I don’t hate him as much as I did in book 1, but I don’t feel that he was completely absolved either? So I’m in this limbo of not really liking him or even understanding him. And I can’t tell if Callyn likes him either. Their relational development felt identical to book 2 without enough advancement. (ie. C: “I can’t trust you” A:“but I’ve never lied to you” C: “but you haven’t told the whole truth either.” also C: “you’re not wrong but you’re not right”)
-Jax and Tycho are kind of fighting, and they’re my sweet baby boys so obviously I hated that. However, I do understand using this conflict as a way to develop and grow their characters. Except, the resolution is a little bit… Quick? Too simple? I’m not sure. It just felt like there was A LOT of tension, and then finally they had a moment alone together and then everything was good.
-The ending felt dissatisfying because it didn’t feel like the inherent conflict was resolved (people are still afraid of magic). In fact, I could easily see a repeat of the same conflict happening again in 5 years’ time because there was no large scale resolution.

Overall, it felt like everything shrunk in book 3, which was a direct contrast to how expansive book 2 felt. I came into this book prepared for more, and instead, I felt like I got less. The final battle scene is perfectly representative of the smallness (not to give any spoilers, just saying that there was a small group present at the end). I was two-thirds through the book and honestly started to think that perhaps this was a series with 4 books and we’d have one more book. It didn’t feel like a finale that fit with the overarching story developed in book 1 and 2.

But look, I know I’m highlighting all my critiques, so I’ll end by saying that I’m a Brigid Kemmerer fan. She’s talented, and I'd absolutely still recommend this series. And lastly, Tycho and Jax forever <3

[Jordan Fairhurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down!

Starting with everything I loved:
- I love an excuse to go back to Emberfall. I loved everything about the world thats Kemmerer created.
- Tycho feels much more like an independent character and not just Grey 2.0.
- Nora. Little Queen. How old is she now anyway? 🤣
- The ending was truly perfect. It leaves the story open enough that it could be returned to one day. But if this was the end of it, there are enough neat bows for it to be satisfying.

My dislikes:
- There were way too many points of view for the story to flow nicely. Grey, Lia Mara, Tycho, Jax, Alek, Callyn, at some points the story felt jumpy? Some things I struggled to make sense of too. I felt like it was hard to build a connection with the main characters too, as thy were only narrating for small parts of the story.
- Lack of Rhen. This story needed more of Rhen. It needed more of that brotherly bond that we all love with Rhen and Grey. I didn't like that he wasn't included in the ending.
- Callyn, she was incredibly irritating.
- Something just felt missing. I can't put my finger on what.

A satisfying ending to a pretty good series. Would have been 4 ⭐️ if it wasn't for the 618165 points of view.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.75 rounded to 4.0 stars.

Can’t believe this is the end, I have adored these characters and the story so much. The final instalment is hefty and it weighs on your doubts about how everything might work out. There’s still a lot of betrayal and secrecy in the air that makes any friendship, allyship or romance feel like it’s teetering on the end.

As we see the story through we get twists and loyalties tested, but some bonds are forged stronger than ever I can thankfully say. My heart breaks for the ending, it felt so bittersweet after everything the characters have been through, but it seems like justice at the same time.

[Katherine Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys…. I’m not ok.
10000000/10

This book has no right to be this funny. Why was it that I was sobbing one line and in my tears cackling because these characters are so dry and ridiculous. (absolutely peak)
It was fire
I’m somewhere between feeling closure, mourning, happiness, and emptiness?
I don’t think this series could have ended any better. But it can’t be over… right? Like that’s it?
I always said I would never like Alek….. and yeah his redemption arc hit. He was really well written and I loved his and Callyn’s constant sarcasm and bickering
Tycho and Jax…. Maaaaannnnn. They have my heart. Their relationship was wayyyyy too good.
Both of their character developments were great and unique!
Tycho’s arc made my heart ache. He went from this almost belligerent kid to a young man and…. It’s too good. I’m also happy salam is ok ngl lol.
I adored Nakiis and Tycho’s friendship and thought the entire storyline with Nakiis was wild!
I really liked the idea of the real story behind the magesmiths and why they actually ended up in Emberfall
I have never been more convinced Grey would die… that’s all I can say before I burst out into sobs. (Let’s just say my theories were right😈)
The only thing I wish we got was what Jake and Noah were up to- I miss Jake!
No don’t mind me while I go blast “a life where we work out” and sob because how is it that it’s over?
(I need more. Plz I beg)