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Forged in Shadow and Flame

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Betrayed by blood. Forged in magic.

The Cruel Prince and Throne of Glass meets in this epic romantic, sapphic fantasy where a ruthless fae princess and the human put fighter sworn to hate her are forced into an uneasy alliance to expose the corruption festering within the fae court, where betrayal wears a crown, power demands blood, and survival means trusting the one person she was never meant to love.

A Fractured Dominion

Lytherien has long been shaped by fae rule, with human provinces and lesser magical races bound beneath their authority. Though peace has endured in name, it has been maintained through fear, control, and unequal pacts. Now, the fragile balance is cracking as unrest stirs within the fae court itself.

A Reluctant Champion

Ren Harper, once nothing more than a human arena brawler scraping by in the underground fighting pits, is bound for execution at the hands of the fae until a monstrous raid shatters the voyage and forces her to unleash fire-wielding magic. Her deadly display catches the attention of a calculating fae prince, who offers her a hunt the nightmares plaguing the realm in exchange for coin, freedom, and the chance to finally disappear.

A Crowned Strategist

Always ten steps ahead and fiercely devoted to her people, fae Princess Kaelin of House Vaelaran rules with precision and restraint. When signs of corruption begin to surface within the fae court, her court, she is determined to root it out before it threatens her kingdom no matter the cost. The only problem? Working alongside Ren Harper, a human pit fighter whose defiance threatens to upend Kaelin’s careful control.

A Court on the Brink.

With the fae court unraveling and enemies closing in, Kaelin and Ren must rely on each other to survive a web of lies, shifting alliances, and hidden threats, along with feelings neither of them can afford to acknowledge.

As corruption tightens its grip on the fae court and a cursed plague begins to spread, long-buried truths stir alongside whispers of a forgotten prophecy, forcing Ren to face the

She wasn’t just born to survive.

She was forged for something far more dangerous.

FORGED IN SHADOW AND FLAME is the first book in the Flameborne trilogy, an epic romantasy series that follows our heroes Ren and Princess Kaelin journey through betrayal, magic, and rising power. This first installment sets the stage for a sweeping saga of rebellion, self-discovery, and a love that defies every rule.

This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers story is perfect for fans of high stakes, character-driven plots, rich world-building, a diverse cast of characters, elemental magic and ancient prophecies, and and fierce heroines who are just as deadly and twice as unforgettable—and books like Throne of Glass, Quicksilver, The Cruel Prince, Furyborne, Ash Princess, and Red Queen.

506 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2026

13 people are currently reading
161 people want to read

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Unpopmary.
245 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 12, 2026
3.75 ⭐

Forged in Shadow and Flame is the first book in the Flameborne trilogy, a fae enemies-to-lovers romantasy set in a richly imagined world where fae, orcs, sirens, vampires, and other supernatural beings coexist... while humans remain at the very bottom of the social ladder. Our story follows Ren Harper, a human enslaved and fighting for survival every single day. After a twist of fate allows her to escape her chains, she’s offered a dangerous bargain by a fae prince: serve the Fae Court and hunt deadly monsters threatening the realm in exchange for anything she desires.

This deal throws her directly into the path of Kaelin, a fae princess who believes humans are weak, disposable, and beneath her. Ren, however, refuses to be intimidated, especially not by an arrogant princess who seems to have never known hardship. As these two are forced to work together, their clashing worldviews slowly unravel, proving that assumptions can be just as dangerous as enemies… and that the line between hate and love is razor-thin.

There’s so much to unpack in this story... but the characters truly stole the show for me. Ren is an outstanding FMC: resilient, compassionate, and deeply layered. Despite carrying immense trauma, she never stops fighting; not just for herself, but for others. I loved how she consistently chose what was right, even when it came at a personal cost. Watching her confront her past, grow into her strength, and reclaim her confidence was incredibly rewarding. The reveal of her powers and how closely they’re tied to her history only made her arc stronger.

Kaelin was more challenging for me to connect with, mainly because she remains quite enigmatic. As a fae, secrets are part of who she is, and her polished exterior hides far more than it reveals. Still, beneath that façade is a fiercely loyal woman who protects those she loves without hesitation. While I wished for more depth and page time for her in this book, I’m hopeful and excited to see her character explored more fully in the sequel.

The supporting cast deserves just as much love. Lucan, Elira, and especially Prince Talen added so much heart to the story. Talen quickly became a favorite; his sense of justice and the respect he shows others—regardless of race or status—was refreshing. His friendship with Ren was one of my favorite dynamics, full of warmth and genuine connection. Every side character felt purposeful and memorable.

The world-building is phenomenal. From the detailed map to the pronunciation guide, it’s clear how much thought went into this setting. The atmosphere is immersive, blending politics, magic systems, and emotional growth seamlessly. Sarah’s prose is both lyrical and raw, making even the quieter moments feel meaningful. The pacing kept me hooked as well, I genuinely couldn’t put this book down and never once felt bored.

If I had to point out one weakness, it would be the romance. While the slow burn was promising, the emotional intimacy didn’t quite reach the depth I was hoping for. It wasn’t rushed, but it did leave me feeling a bit conflicted by the end, wanting just a little more from their connection.

Still, this is an impressive debut and one I can easily see becoming a fan favorite. It delivers on so many fronts: immersive world-building, morally gray characters, dangerous magic, a mysterious villain, and so many feels. I’m already counting down until book two.

Huge thank you to the author for the eARC. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read this early!

Profile Image for KateJoanna.
504 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 20, 2026
An impressive and rich fantasy with character depth that makes so many of them feel tangibly real. This book does a great job at pulling readers in and tugging at (aka ripping out) your emotions.

This is the first book I’ve read in a while where I felt so connected to the characters and genuinely rooted for so many of them. There were also so many characters that developed from hated to loved and visa versa, which was interesting.

It wasn’t without flaws and isn’t an easy read, I would say this is better suited for those that like long winded stories that come with Tolkien or Throne of glass style epic fantasies, rather than ACOTAR or Fourth Wings fast, more modern Romantasy.
There were times when I was fully invested and gripped but also times were I lost interest and wanted things to wrap up a little faster. Likewise some things also feel moved on from too quickly.

The beginning was a little brusk but still pulls you in, with lovely description and writing but it does take a minute to get into the book and connect with the characters and story.
There were a lot of times where things were confusing or not fully developed, leaving a lot of questions and making it occasionally feel choppy.
I think with some editing this could be a much better read, whereas at this stage the pacing is not smooth and therefore lets it down a bit.

It is impressively crafted though not entirely smooth, the pace of the plot can be juddering and a lot of places where it feels unfinished.
Quite a long book with a lot going on, perhaps a little too ambitious amount for 1 novel.
Well written and very good characters /depth, an intriguing world that I’d like to know more about and look forward to reading the next instalment.
Profile Image for diamondinthepages .
145 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This sapphic romantasy leans heavily into high-fantasy vibes, and I had such a good time with it. While it didn’t fully destroy me emotionally, it definitely kept me invested the entire way through (which is crazy since it 600 pages) and that ending?? I’m still a little mad about it.
Ren is such a compelling main character. Watching her slowly open up while we uncover pieces of her backstory was genuinely heartbreaking, and I loved how layered she felt. Her relationship with Kaelin, the fae princess, starts firmly in enemies-to-lovers territory, and the tension between them is so good. There’s mistrust, sharp edges, and that constant push-and-pull that makes every softer moment feel earned. When they do begin to let their guards down, it hits that much harder and yes, the spice absolutely delivers.
But honestly, one of my favorite parts of this book was Ren’s friendship with Taelin. Their dynamic added so much warmth and grounding to the story, and I loved seeing that bond develop alongside the romance. It gave the book emotional depth beyond just the central relationship.
The worldbuilding felt rich and expansive, almost like high fantasy with a romantasy heart. And the twist at the end? I should have seen it coming. The author absolutely left breadcrumbs the entire time, and yet I still missed them until the reveal smacked me in the face. It’s one of those twists that makes you want to flip back and reread just to see where you went wrong.
I’m very curious (and slightly emotionally wary) to see where this series goes next. If you’re into sapphic romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension, painful backstories, solid spice, and a twist that will have you yelling at the page, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Profile Image for Megan.
511 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 19, 2026
This book left me stunned. I've read a lot of traditional fantasy and romantasy books, and Forged in Shadow and Flame is up there with the best. This is a long book at almost 600 pages and it was NOT repetitive! It is very well written. The plot was plotting. The pacing was impeccable. Sarah gives us exactly what we need without fluff. Each piece of this story was expertly crafted with hints woven from the very beginning. It has an ensemble feel, where its mostly from the POV of the two main female characters, but it also has some from other main-ish characters and random POVs that are laying plot points in other locations. The conflicts were typical for a fantasy but had a novel spin that was refreshing. As a reader, it made the experience a goldilocks' mix of familiar and comforting ("oh I know where this is going") and what is happening ("oh noooooo, not them"). My emotions were very raw while reading. I found myself choked up more than once and I cried at least 3 times. Some of these tears were from actually sad parts (death), but the most important ones were from the deep emotional inner conflicts and heartfelt scenes between the characters. This is a sapphic enemies to lovers romance with a ton of tension and great pay off scenes. The spice was hot but it was intimate. So very intimate and beautiful and honest and some of the best I've ever read. Don't get me started on the last 15%. It was a perfect storm of a lead up to the end that's not an end with lots of plot chips falling into place and even more setting up for the next installment. Talk about emotional whiplash. There's a lot to love about this book; highly recommend and I can't wait for book 2!

I forgot to mention the whimsy! There is a fantastic enchanted wardrobe. Perfection.
292 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 24, 2026
📖 AT A GLANCE
STARS 4 stars - it was really good
SPICE medium/hot
ANGST medium - they are just getting started there was some conflict
SLOW BURN YES
CLIFFHANGER YES
CHARACTERS Ren and Kaelin

🖤 MY READING EXPERIENCE
I really enjoyed this story, and what surprised me most was how much bigger it felt than just the romance. The fantasy and world-building are on a much larger scale, with monsters I have honestly never even heard of before. Sarah describes everything so vividly that you can see it all unfolding.
Iff you love deeply immersive fantasy where the world is expansive and detailed, this will feel absolutely top tier. Sarah is such a beautiful storyteller, and it shows on every page.
I also have to mention how well thought out the story is. The author feeds you clues like breadcrumbs throughout, and while you may not realize it in the moment, everything clicks together perfectly by the end. Watching all those pieces fall into place was honestly pretty amazing.

🫀CHARACTER THOUGHTS
The characters truly shine here.
Ren’s growth throughout the book was one of my favorite parts. She has such a big, kind heart, and it is actually that protective nature that lands her in the situation she is in. What I loved most is that her heart never hardens. She never loses that softness, even when everything around her is brutal.
Kaelin, on the other hand, seems like she is going to be all proper and polished because she is royalty. But that expectation is immediately flipped. She is fierce, stubborn, and unapologetically headstrong, and I loved that contrast so much.
These two absolutely clash. They will bump heads until they do not.
And when it comes to who takes charge, Kaelin handles that. Fully. 😌

🔥 MOMENTS I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT
That ending was phenomenal.
The fighting, the sacrifices, and the emotional weight are the kind of chaos my bookish dreams are made of. Even if I had been unsure at any point earlier in the story, the ending completely consumed me. I am fully invested now and need to know what happens to this found family in the next books.

📚 READ THIS IF YOU LOVE…
Sapphic fantasy, Monsters, Enemies to Lovers, Epic fight scenes, Found family, Slow burns
Profile Image for CuriousPigeon.
43 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 5, 2026
ARC Reader Confessional – Forged in Shadow and Flame by Sarah Primiano

I opened this book with a normal amount of confidence.
I closed it emotionally altered, dehydrated, and fully aware that sleep is optional.

Forged in Shadow and Flame didn’t ask for my attention — it took it hostage. I told myself I’d read “just a chapter.” That was a lie. Several chapters later, I was bargaining with the universe, whispering one more page like it was a survival mantra.

The world-building is rich but never info-dumpy, the pacing is absolutely feral, and the tension? Criminal. Every chapter ends like it knows exactly what it’s doing to you and takes joy in it. Rude. I loved it.

The characters are sharp, layered, and dangerously easy to get attached to. I laughed. I panicked. I stared at a wall at least once to process what I’d just read. The balance of shadow and flame is immaculate, and the stakes feel very real in a why am I stressed, this is fiction kind of way.

This book is immersive, addictive, and wildly entertaining. It does not respect your time, your sleep schedule, or your emotional stability — and honestly, thank you for that.

I need the next book immediately. Not soon. Not eventually. Immediately.

📖 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
2 reviews
February 16, 2026
Wonderful world building

I was quickly hooked into this book and even lost a little sleep in the process (worth it). The world building is great and easy to follow. The magic system isn't convoluted or over-complicated, but still impactful.

The push and pull between Ren and Kaelia is tantalizing and addicting, especially for connoisseurs for enemies/rivals to lovers. There is witty banter throughout, not just between the love interests. Ren's sharp tongue and stubbornness is frustratingly endearing (even if you may want to shake her by the shoulders yourself a few times).

Sarah Primiano's writing style is another breath of fresh air as her descriptions were perfect for my vivid imagination and not so intense as to read like a droll history lesson from George R Martin.

I'm really looking forward to the release of book 2. And I'll cross my fingers and hope for a special edition release when the trilogy is complete!
Profile Image for Jessica Minor.
33 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 5, 2026
I got the pleasure to arc read for This amazing author. All I can say is WOW, my first book that was almost 600pages, and the slow burn was done amazingly! I absolutely love ren, her smart ass mouth, remarks.

This is book 1 in the series, so there is wirkd building, character building, and relationships blossoming. I love how Sarah painted the world she created and people living it. The build up for the next book was done wonderfully and I can not wait

Youll get banter, sarcastic mouths, and beautiful intimacy. You get to watch there feelings grow before they realize it themselves, and maybe watch a elf princess change her ways and views.

I recieved this book as a arc in exchange for a honest review
Profile Image for Eel.
Author 3 books10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 11, 2026
“Maybe I’m not your friend. Maybe I never will be. But does that mean I don’t care whether you survive?”

Top tier Sapphic ROMANTASY. There’s a lot of little things in this story that build an epic scope. I was gasping by the end. I loved the many ballroom scenes, the way fae princess Kaelin “found herself leaning forward” every time she looks at the fiery human who has a big secret—kept even from herself.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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