He tore her world apart. Now he may be the only one who can help her save it.
Ana has spent her life as a pawn—used, betrayed, and hunted. But no more.
As the rightful heir to Trova’s blood-soaked throne, she’s ready to rise—ruthless, unyielding, and armed with the celestial magic awakening inside her.
But power always has a price, and Ana is already burning beneath the weight of it.
To control the force threatening to consume her, Ana must ally with the man who once left her for dead.
Leon stole her away, shattered her heart, and turned her world to ash.
Now, he needs her magic to save his brother—and she needs his help to control it before it destroys her.
Enemies close in. A zealot hunts her from the shadows. And with every glance, every touch, the bond between Ana and Leon deepens—twisting into something fierce, forbidden, and impossible to ignore.
But in a realm built on blood and lies, love is a fatal weakness.
And surrendering to him again could cost her everything.
For readers who love clever heroines and twisty plots that keep you thinking.
Zara Storm writes fantasy romance with dark, compelling heroes and sassy, competent heroines. Her debut series is The Gold Weaver series. Zara loves fast-paced books with adventure, magic, strong characters, a rough-edged hero, and spicy romance.
Zara lives in Colorado with her husband, their two kids, her scaredy cat pit-bull mix, and their feisty cat who is queen of the house. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, hike the mountains, and travel to new places, but she’ll cop to the fact that she spends too much time watching Tiktok videos and she can endlessly watch Lucifer and Vampire Diaries.
You can connect with Zara on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and her website.
I was already in love with this series and once again the narrators, Jessie Elwyn and Christopher Andrews, knocked it out of the park. They just did everything rights - there was a depth of emotion, unique voices for the different side character, and an unexplainable something extra.
From the very first page, listeners are pulled in and are living each moment right next to the characters. It really says something to the talent of these narrators that I frequently found myself unable to multitask as I just wanted to listen and fully enjoy the life they brought to these already amazing book.
Forged in Flame and Shadow builds on everything Zara Storm set up in book one. Where the first book laid the groundwork, this one pushes the story forward with real momentum. By the end, it feels like we've climbed all the way up the mountain, only to be shoved off the edge on the final page. The plot really starts to gain momentum and open up, with smaller subplots coming into focus, and we just begin to see the ripple effects of earlier events.
Ana and Leon’s relationship continues to be a high point for me. It isn’t a straightforward progression, which makes it feel more authentic. They’re both navigating their own inner turmoil and the pressure of outside forces. I liked how the story continues to balance familiar tropes like he falls first, he’s morally grey, and she’s starting to embrace that as well, alongside the evolution of Ana’s magic. And yes, the steam is definitely there.
One of the things I appreciate most about Zara Storm’s writing is the way side characters are handled. They aren’t just there to support the main plot. They’re fully formed, with their own arcs that connect naturally to the larger story. This is especially true with Ana and Tira. Their friendship felt real and grounded, and I loved seeing a female bond take up meaningful space on the page.
With how this one ended, I’m counting down to book three. I can’t wait to see how this series continues to evolve.
Forged in Flame and Shadow was a really strong follow‑up. The storyline never got dull and kept things moving along and entertaining.
I love how even though Ana was sheltered her whole life she still stands on her own and can identify when people are trying to play her and doesn’t let it happen.
I also really love the magic in these books. There are multiple different magic systems and they’re all unique.
I’m still struggling a bit with the male narrators voice. The gruffness is just difficult for me to really ‘hear’
The only thing I don’t love so much are the more intimate scenes. The dialogue during feels quite cringy at times. But it isn’t so much that it’s ruining the book for me.
The cliffhanger at the end had me dying to know what happened. I am diving right into the next one!
A solid sequel, despite Alastor's lack of screen time. Some fun, new characters are introduced and the story moves forward well - I'm invested! I loved the ball scene and how Ana handles all of that. I wish this had been done with Duet style narration and I didn't love the voice for Leon. I expected something more regal for a prince. However, I love this series and I look forward to seeing what is next!