Firemage

by Lindsay Cummings

Scenes from Prince Arawn Laroux's POV from RAVENMINDER, Book 1.

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy

210 pages, Paperback

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

Lindsay Cummings is the #1 NYT Bestselling author of RAVENMINDER, a new romantasy series. (Followed by EAGLEMINDER and FIREMAGE).

She is also the author of several other books across a wide variety of genres.

She is represented by Pete Knapp at Park & Fine Literary in NYC.

You can follow Lindsay on instagram @authorlindsaycummings and on booktok.

Signed copies are available on her website!

Reviews

[Jordan Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars OK YUP—I’m officially so invested in this series now. I’m genuinely glad Lindsay wrote these novellas because they add so much depth and insight into the characters. When I first read Ravenminder, I wasn’t particularly attached to either MMC, but after reading both of their novellas… I honestly don’t know which brother to choose?! (OK, maybe I do hehe). I’m beyond excited to see where Lindsay takes this story next!

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been conflicted about brother's since Vampire Diaries. I don't know which one I like more.
I loved that we got Arawn and Soraya's friendship story.
Arawn and Ezer 🥰
The stuff Arawn had to take on at a young age. Now we need book 2 of Ravenminder because I want to know where this is going!?!

[Taylen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love when authors write novellas telling side stories or alternative POVs that expand from the original story. Lindsay provided us with just that with these novellas! Firemage follows after Ravenminder so make sure to read that one first! I’m a Arawn girlie, so I wanted to read his backstory first of course 😏 the main takeaway from the book is that it solidified my stance as team Arawn ❤️🐦‍⬛ I love the way he literally burns for her and shows his love to Ezer. Getting to see his inside turmoil and struggles makes you feel so much more connected to the characters than you already were. Although I most likely won’t switch sides, I’m excited to see into Kinlear’s mind next in his own novella Eagleminder!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOPPPPPP, if you haven’t read RAVENMINDER go read that first then dive into the novellas as they’re full of spoilers!

Getting inside Arawns head was everything after reading Eagleminder!! We see who he was before Ravenminder the weight of everything fully settles on him, and my heart broke watching him love Soraya knowing she was never truly meant to be his. The longing, the quiet devastation, the way he carries duty like a punishment? Hit me straight in the heart!! The chase to bring her back had my chest tight the entire time!

And don’t even get me started on 5 year old Arawn?!? My heart BROKE for the little boy who just wanted cinnamon rolls for his birthday and got handed a crown instead. 🥹 A child who wanted sweetness and simplicity but was given responsibility and sacrifice instead.

Then we jump into the events of Ravenminder and LET ME TELL YALL!!! Arawn + Ezer??? The slow burn, the yearning, the tension that simmers under every interaction is alllll perfection. It’s soft, it’s steamy, it’s aching in that “I want you but I shouldn’t” and I ATE. IT. UP! Watching Arawn try to hold together his fractured magic, broken heart, and the impossible responsibility while still craving connection had me rooting for him so hard!

I also just desperately want the brothers to forgive each other and finally get along. 🥹 The tension, the misunderstandings, the hurt between Arawn and Kinlear hurts almost as much as the romance between the three of them! They both carry so much love and pain from their childhood into adulthood and all I want is for them to choose each other as family again.

Now listen… even after all of this, I still stand firm that I’m Team Kinlear. 🤣. My loyalty waved a bit but Firemage absolutely made me understand Arawn on a whole new level and softened my heart for him! I understand him better now.

I adored both novellas for different reason and man am I FERAL to find out what happens in book 2!!!

I honestly can’t recommend RAVENMINDER enough & when you’re finished come read these novellas!! Them you can decide if you’re Team Arawn🔥or Team Kinlear 🦅

[Tani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arawn

This novella from Arawn's pov is incredible. I truly felt the pressure he was under from his father and princely duties to never fail. He gripped my heart so hard and is forever one of my most favorite book boyfriends now. I will highly recommend this series at any opportunity because I truly fell in love with these characters and if you love romantasy, you'll fall in love with them just as hard as I did. Lindsay's writing is beautiful and is so emotionally relatable that I felt so seen and my feelings of the struggles I went through were validated. I love this series so much and I cannot wait for ravenminder book 2!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to have been able to read this novella early. Arawn is such a golden retriever MMC. While Fire mage didn’t hit me as emotionally as eagle minder did, I still loved seeing Arawn’s POV and how he always tried to do the right thing. While it didn’t have the same emotional punch as Eagle Minder, it was heartbreaking seeing the weight of his parent’s expectations as well as how cold and unforgiving they were with Arawn. This novella gave a lot of answers but also made me question a lot of things going into book 2. I loved Fire Mage and can’t wait for everyone else to read it!

[Billi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel set in Ravenminder’s world from the POV of Arawn.
I love him so much. Now, I won’t pick between my two princes I refuse but I do just love Arwan. How Ezer just sets his soul on fire, literally. I love them together augh! The tension, the yearning, and the well everything. I loved getting a look into him and his relationship with Kinlear.

[diaryofanightlizard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call me a Firemage the way I’m on fire for Arawn

These two novellas really confirmed both how alike and how different the twins are. I loved getting to know Soraya more than we did in Ravenminder or Eagleminder. I just want to give Arawn a hug and a cinnamon roll and tell him he’s worthy of love.

[Jennifer Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firemage retells Ravenminder through Arawn’s POV as the pious, handsome, blessed heir to the throne. But as always, appearances aren't always what they seem.

Arawn’s story is every bit as tragic as Kinlear’s, and this book claimed me immediately. Alongside Eagleminder and Ravenminder, it cements Lindsay Cummings as a master of emotional turmoil—a rollercoaster I’ll gladly ride again.

My heart ached for both princes. Bonded before birth, inseparable as children, rivals as adults...each carrying a burden destined to tear them apart. The emotional neglect and off-page abuse they endured ignited a deep anger in me. Realizing that Arawn was never truly allowed to live for himself—and that fate punished him the moment he tried—shattered me.

Through Arawn’s eyes, we see more clearly the depravity of the Five’s religion and the devastating cost of unquestioned faith. Unlike Kinlear, Arawn never learned to rebel or doubt. His tragedy lies in how deeply he believed—and how much it cost him.

Where Kinlear’s pain forged defiance, Arawn’s forged devotion—and both paths are equally heartbreaking.Firemage left me grieving not just for Arawn, but for the life he was never allowed to choose.

I am Team Arawn now.

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Ravenminder, and discovered an utterly surprising, unique and addictive story. The moment the two novellas (Eagleminder & Firemage) were announced, I knew I needed them.

Please note: You definitely need to read Ravenminder before embarking on this journey. You will not understand it otherwise.

[brazenandbookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid novella. Cant wait for the next book!

[Emma Lovelady · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy shit idk how to feel…

WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO ROOT FOR?????

god damnit i need book two.

[Jyl Costanza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a must read for any who read RavenMinder!! I’ve been Team Arawn from the start and this solidified it 100000%. This background is emotional and deep, it completely changes the way you think of the characters. Now I need book 2!!!!

[Shawna Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
5 ⭐️ I loved being back in this world and learning so much about both princes, from their pasts to the present. I love them both. But, I'm still team Kinlear!

[Nawelle Feral Reader Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been Team Arawn from day one and Firemage didn’t just confirm that loyalty, it cemented it in fire and blood.

Where Kinlear’s novella broke my heart, Arawn’s shattered it in a completely different way.

This is the story of the boy who was never allowed to be a boy. The older twin. The Chosen. The crown prince burdened with prophecy, perfection, and expectation from the moment he drew breath. At five years old on his birthday Arawn is not given joy or indulgence or even the cinnamon rolls he dreams about. Instead, he is handed the weight of the crown and the knowledge that one day he will be asked to sacrifice everything he loves. That moment defines him. From that point on, Arawn is never allowed to want anything simple. Or soft. Or human.

He is purity forged into obedience and propriety. He is taught to cage his heart, silence his desires, and live as an offering to gods who demand everything and give nothing back.

What struck me most is how little of life Arawn is actually allowed to have. Kinlear is sick, punished, overlooked however he lives, but Arawn is expected to be flawless. Never sick enough to rest. Never broken enough to stop. Never human enough to fail. He carries responsibility like a penance he never chose, and love like a secret sin.

And yet… his love for Kinlear is unwavering.
Even after everything.
Even after resentment, betrayal, heartbreak, and Soraya. My beautiful pure hearted Arawn 😢

That relationship is the emotional spine of this novella. Arawn sees Kinlear’s darkness, his bitterness, his self-destruction and loves him anyway. He protects him. Advocates for him. Pays penance in his place. Tries, again and again, to carve out a future where his twin might survive long enough to matter. Watching Arawn choose Kinlear repeatedly, even when it costs him everything, is quietly devastating.

Soraya, too, is a painful thread but Firemage makes something very clear: Soraya was always Kinlear’s. She was tied to his fate, his illness, his need to be saved. Arawn loved her, yes but it was a love shaped by restraint, silence, and inevitability. He stepped back. He sacrificed. He endured.

Ezer changes everything.

Ezer does what no one else ever has: she sees Arawn, not as a prince or a symbol, but as a man. And she chooses him. Again and again.

She chooses him when he is powerless.
She chooses him when his magic is gone.
She chooses him when all he has left is honesty and a fractured heart.

Where Soraya was bound by duty, Ezer is choice. Where Soraya belonged to Kinlear, Ezer belongs with Arawn because she actively chooses him. She does not need him to be perfect. She does not fear his fire. She meets him scar for scar and never asks him to be less.

And in loving her, Arawn’s fire is sparked back to life not through prophecy or obligation, but through connection. Through being seen. Through being wanted. Ezer feeds his soul in a way no one ever has. She gives him warmth where there was only expectation, desire where there was only restraint, life where there was only survival.

And it raises a devastating question the novella never fully answers: If love is forbidden, then why does it make his power burn stronger?
Why does his fire return not through obedience, sacrifice, or devotion to the gods but through love? If something condemned as weakness is the very thing that reignites his magic, then was it ever truly forbidden… or simply feared?

This novella made me realise something devastating: while Kinlear fears being forgotten, Arawn fears becoming nothing but the crown. He is fire bound in chains. Power without freedom. A boy raised to believe that love will be the thing that ruins him and still, he dares to love anyway.

Firemage is not a story about rebellion. It’s about endurance. About goodness under unbearable weight. About a little boy who was asked to be a King long before he’s allowed to be human.

I ache for Kinlear.
But Arawn?

Arawn is the one who breaks and burns my heart and I will stand by him. Every time.

Now excuse me, but I need Book 2 immediately because I have to know what happens next.

[Amanda BookishRabbits · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What if I want to be just a boy?"

Firemage surprised me in the best, and most emotionally inconvenient, way. I opened it expecting the fiery, stoic prince… and instead ended up face-to-face with the sheer pressure on Arawn’s shoulders; his entire heart laid bare and cracked right down the middle. There was definitely a moment where I just sat there thinking, “Oh. So this man has been quietly suffering while pretending he’s fine. Cool. Love that for my feelings.”

What this book really shows is that Arawn isn’t the controlled and more simplistic prince I thought he was. He’s someone raised to believe his worth lies in control, sacrifice, and locking his own wants out of sight. He bottles everything up, smiles through the weight crushing him, and simply keeps going. He’s a storm sealed too tightly, always choosing responsibility over himself because he has been conditioned to believe that is the only option. The quiet suffering, the buried longing, the way he denies himself happiness... it’s heartbreaking and makes you feel every bit of it with him.

What I loved:

🔥 Arawn’s inner world: seeing how deeply he feels things, and how carefully he tries to lock those feelings away, makes him incredibly human. His restraint, his duty, and those rare soft moments when he finally lets himself care hit so differently from inside his POV

🛡 Duty versus heart: watching him wrestle with what he wants and what he believes he owes everyone felt heartbreaking and raw. He is terrified of failing the people who depend on him, and terrified of defying the laws and responsibilities that have been forced onto him his whole life. Suddenly, so many of his choices feel painfully logical.

💔 Old wounds: the grief he carries, the ghosts of the past, and the shadow of Soraya add layers that we had only guessed at before. Here, we see how those cracks formed and why he refuses to let them widen.

🤔 Moments we thought we knew: revisiting key scenes from Ravenminder through his eyes does not rewrite them. It deepens them. Actions that once seemed distant now read like quiet sacrifices he never expected anyone to notice.

Even with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Arawn’s thoughts slip into these awkward and adorable panicked moments about the girl that he loves. He’ll be the picture of stoic perfection one second, and the next he’s panicking while politely pretending everything is fine. Completely endearing, and I couldn’t help but love him even more for it.

Firemage doesn’t just deepen your understanding of Arawn, it shows the incredible weight he carries and the sacrifices he makes every single day. Despite the immense pressure, the responsibilities forced onto him, and the constant expectation that he put duty above all else, he still chooses Ezer. I finished the book feeling both heavier and more invested than ever in him, his choices, and the world he fights to protect.

"This woman standing before him? She was everything he'd ever missed in his life. She was freedom and fierceness and fire.
She was scarred and broken like he was, and she was so godsdamned beautiful his heart arched.
She was a question he'd happily spend the rest of his life trying to answer... and he would."

❤️ Confession: I thought reading this would finally settle my love-triangle allegiance, but instead I am emotionally torn in ways I didn’t expect. Arawn’s quiet strength, honesty and loyalty clash deliciously with Kinlear’s chaotic charm and messy vulnerability, and I am stuck between them like someone at a buffet who wants everything but can only carry one plate. My heart has officially gone rogue!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novel-length companion to Ravenminder, we finally step into the mind of the Crown Prince, Arawn Laroux. Split between a past defined by a forbidden love for Soraya, fated for his twin, and the present struggle to navigate his fractured magic and new desire for Ezer, this is the story of a heart at war with duty.
Male POV / Companion Novel
The "Perfect" Heir
Forbidden Love & Regret
Fractured Magic
Steamy Slow-Burn

***

Arawn. I’m really not sure what to say about you, my gorgeous little lost soul. I do, however, have more than a few things I could say to your parents!



I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and my opinion of Arawn was always changing in Ravenminder. So, I was looking forward to his story and hoping it would answer some of the MANY questions I had. And it did. But it’s left me with so much more!!! I am absolutely desperate for the next book after this.



Arawn is the good twin, the true crown prince, the faithful sacred, he can do no wrong. But when we really see why and where that comes from you can’t help but break your heart for him, and it only gets worse. And any other eldest siblings who have faced high expectations, I’m sure felt – like I did - far too seen in Arawn‘s experience.



The love triangle with Soraya, it’s just so so well written. And I think – despite my love for Kinlear – it really throws him into a new light that makes you seriously question his actions and choices.



And Ezer and Arawn? Oh, it’s just delicious seeing his resistance to her, yet his complete inability to stop yearning no matter how hard he tried. It’s genuinely breaking my heart a little bit trying to imagine his reaction when he finds out what happened when Ezer met the Acolyte.



I must say though. F’ the citadel. F’ the five. F’ the king and queen. F’ the whole f’ing lot of pious nonsense. And finally, yay – more chances to see more of Six!!



⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I didn’t expect Arawn’s story to get me in the feels this much!

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn’t already absolutely love Arawn, this book would have completely sealed the deal 😂😍

Ravenminder stands as one of my all-time favorite romantasies, and I loved that Lindsay Cummings gave us two full books from the brothers’ perspectives. I’m especially glad I saved Firemage for last, because I adore Arawn, and experiencing the story entirely through his POV only deepened that love.

While I enjoyed seeing events unfold through Kinlear’s perspective in Eagleminder, I’ll admit… I really dislike his character 🙄😒 (which is probably amplified by how much I love his brother 😂).

Arawn, on the other hand… 😍😍😍
Broody, protective, a fire mage, and his love for Ezer (sigh 😍🥺)… what’s not to love? His POV is powerful and emotional, adding so much depth to the Crown Prince we met in Ravenminder. I loved every second of it. I’ve been so emotionally attached to him since book one that my heart genuinely ached for him while reading his perspective. And I absolutely wanted to punch Soraya and Kinlear in the face 😒🤣, which just proves how incredibly immersive Lindsay Cummings’ writing is. When you feel that fiercely protective over fictional characters, you know the author has done a brilliant job.

This is a fantasy world I will never get tired of. It’s rich, vivid, and utterly breathtaking, written in a way that pulls you in so completely it feels like you’re right there beside them, battling shadow wolves. (Am I deathly afraid of heights? Yes. Did this book make me want to ride a Raphon or war eagle anyway? Absolutely 😍)

Ezer, Six, and Arawn are forever my favorites 😍, and I will be utterly devastated if they don’t get their happy ending. (So Lindsay… if you’re listening 👀 I need this happy ending more than I need air 😇😂)

[tjthebooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

🙌Team Arawn, rise up!🙌

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

LAST REMINDER to read Ravenminder (review in Dark Wings highlights)

We get his upbringing all the way to the start of Ravenminder (love a good flashback)! Remember Soraya being alluded to in Ravenminder? Get ready for her emotional ride alongside the lives of Arawn and Kinlear.

Lots of heartbreak and touching moments from Arawn’s side, his relationship with his father, brother, Soraya and his God. We don’t see much of the Queen, I wonder if she will play more of a part in Eagleminder (Kinlear’s POV). I think the biggest highlight overall was the display of Arawn’s emotions and his strong loyalty to the God’s juxtadeposed against Kinlear’s and Soraya’s lack (even though they are his closest friends!)

Now for all my Kinlear girlies, don’t stress, we do get a sneak peak into his life and I can tell there will be much more to come!

FAV QUOTES
- ‘“He deserves to live,” Arawn said. “Until he dies.” (Speaking on Kinlear)
- ‘It was better not to feel. It was better to have magic and flames and loyalty only to the god he served. To hold his heart for Vivorr, and Vivorr alone.’
- ‘We fight every emotion. We crush every human instinct we have, every bit of weakness and temptation, so that our gods bless us. So that others can live.’
- ‘Years had passed, but it was as if Kinlear hadn’t learned how to do anything with his life in the time they’d been apart.’
- ‘I’d be a fool not to notice the way you flinch when the King is near. The way you look at him like you’re a child again.’
- ‘He didn’t want to live in a world without his twin.’

[Linda Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is EVERYTHING 😍 I am so team Arawn! His POV made me swoon and fall more deeply in love with the scarred cinnamon roll perfection that he is!

Arawn is always trying to please the gods and remain pious and faithful. I really enjoyed getting to know Soraya more through his POV and to understand how instrumental of a side character she is in shaping the emotional landscape of both Arawn and Kinny, and how she led to the shattering of their bond as brothers and twins.

Everything changes when Arawn meets Ezer. He cannot deny the way she stirs fire in his veins! I loved knowing his feelings about her during their dance at Absolution.

He could stay here for the rest of his life. He would happily be her prisoner, the way she had his heart wrapped up in chains.

It wasn’t lost on me that as a young prince, Arawn wished to just be a boy and then he lost his magic and when he met Ezer he was a shadow of his former self and yet, SHE CHOSE HIM ANYWAY!! For the first time in his life, someone chose him and it remade his heart 🥹

Everything he had was hers.
His heart.
His soul.
His fire.
And the choice was theirs to make.

I absolutely adored this novella. It is a must read for any fan of Ravenminder and it will have your heart breaking and later your toes curling as you relive all of your favourite Ezer and Arawn moments from Ravenminder.

Fire Mage is a true gem and I absolutely devoured this book.

Thank you to Lindsay for the chance to read this incredible eARC and this is my honest review.

[Bookishwife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firemage by Lindsay Cummings is a heartbreaking look into Arawn’s POV.

Reading Arawn’s story makes it painfully clear that he never truly got to be a boy. From an incredibly young age, he was forced to be the perfect crown prince; measured, controlled, and endlessly calculated. The moment his own father showed him the consequences of allowing himself to feel rather than rule was the moment his childhood was taken from him.

Arawn never experienced the simple joys of youth: playing with other children, being carefree, or even something as small as enjoying a cinnamon roll. Every emotion was weighed. Every decision carried the burden of a crown he never asked for.

And when he finally allowed himself to feel love, it was taken from him. In that same moment, he didn’t just lose the girl he loved… he also lost his brother. Losing both at once shattered what little happiness Arawn had ever allowed himself to have, leaving him to grieve in silence while still being expected to stand strong as the future king.

What Lindsay Cummings did so brilliantly with these twin POV novellas is show us that neither prince had it easier. Through Eagleminder and Firemage, we see that each brother believed the other had the better life, each carrying their own jealousy, grief, and longing.

After reading both stories, I genuinely cannot choose a side.
Arawn deserved better.
Kinlear deserved better.
Both boys did. 👑💔

These novellas add so much depth to the princes and left me emotionally wrecked in the best way.

[Ash ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fire was never the problem. It was the things I loved that burned me alive.”

There is something uniquely painful about loving a character from the outside… and then being handed their thoughts.

Firemage cracked Arawn open in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Where Eagleminder widened the world, this novella narrowed it--straight into the quiet, aching places Arawn keeps buried beneath duty, restraint, and fire.

Being inside his head reframed everything. His silences. His choices. His restraint. What once felt distant now feels deliberate, and devastating. Arawn isn’t cold; he is careful. He isn’t unfeeling; he is burning, constantly measuring the cost of every emotion he allows himself to carry.

This story lets us sit with Arawn's grief, his fear, and the impossible weight of responsibility he shoulders without complaint. The bond between him and the others takes on new meaning here, especially when viewed through the lens of everything he refuses to say out loud.

Eagleminder made my heart expand and Firemage made it ache.

These novellas continue to prove that perspective is everything... and that sometimes the most powerful stories are the quiet ones, told in the spaces between words.

Thank you, Lindsay, for the opportunity to read these novellas ahead of their release. I am forever changed by this world and cannot wait to see what else you do with it.

[Alice.thereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-in-One Review | Ravenminder Novellas

These two 200+ page novellas are the newest additions to the Ravenminder series by the incredible Lindsay Cummings , and they were everything I didn’t know I needed.

🔥 Fire Mage is told from Arawn’s POV.
Arawn is a fire mage and eagle-riding warrior, trained from childhood to become the next king. Born mere seconds before his sickly twin, he is labeled the chosen one—and his parents train him ruthlessly, isolating him from his brother and best friend in the name of duty. His story is deeply emotional, showing just how fiercely and wholly he loves from a young age, while constantly battling the impossible tension between his heart and his crown.

🦅 Eagleminder is told from Kinlear’s POV, the second twin—the spare. Chronically ill and raised to believe he has little value to his family or kingdom, Kinlear lives untethered, earning a bad-boy reputation because he has less to lose while time feels borrowed. As he grows, he begins experiencing visions of the future and slowly realizes his purpose may be far greater than anyone ever imagined.

Both twins wrestle with identity, duty, purpose, and belonging-and both fall for the same girl… twice. Their journeys are heartbreaking in the most beautiful, meaningful way.

These novellas were the perfect addition to the series and exactly what my heart needed after the Ravenminder cliffhanger. Emotional, layered, and utterly unforgettable. 💔✨

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how delightful this read has been, seeing Arawn fighting his own battles, perceived as the perfect heir yet so vulnerable on the inside. I adored seeing behind his mask and realising he is jealous of Kinlear, seeing him as being the twin that could be free to do as he pleased with no expectations on him. This book had me feeling the burdens placed upon Arawn from such a young age, his sense of loyalty to his twin and how those bonds were tested through this story. 

My heart was breaking over Soraya and his loss of magic and then having Ezer enter his world and sweep everything away so he sees it all afresh. 

I was always drawn to Kinlear but this book has me doubting my choices! 

I can't get enough of this series and already I'm craving more. 

Told through Arawn’s POV, this follows him from being a small child alongside Kinlear and through to the Ravenminder story. It explores his thoughts and desires particularly when it comes to Ezer. It delves into the vulnerable man beneath the expected veneer of the future king, appearing as the golden child he feels every bit of his gilded captivity being unable to make a simple choice about who he can even love. Prepare for heartbreak and yearning from the gorgeous Arawn. 

[Heather Altundağ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a whirlwind this book was. I really enjoyed getting into the head of Arawn after reading about his twin brother, Kinlear. One thing I did love about this book, is that we got more of his background story and relationships that he had. In his brother’s POV, we didn’t get as much, but in this one we get to see more of the inner workings of everything. It’s a very nice contrast and lends to the importance of certain details from Ravenminder, that are kind of answered here. I do wish we could have seen more of his POVs with Ezer, but we got a glimpse at the views that were deemed the most important for his character growth. You can definitely see in this book how Arawn is an “older sibling”. He takes on more responsibilities and pressure from his parents and those around him (which is a common stereotype of oldest siblings). Whereas his twin, Kinlear (the “younger sibling), plays well into that stereotype, as he is more chaotic and more willing to break the rules. You really get a sense of their different personalities and their environment, and how that has shaped them into what is being/ going to be portrayed in future books. Overall, I really enjoyed his POV and can’t wait to see how he grows in the next book. ☺️

[ferra_the_bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so difficult for me to finish Firemage because I knew exactly how much it was going to wreck me ❤️‍🩹
Arawn - firstborn, Crown Prince, First Rider - is the twin the kingdom depends on. From the outside, he is devotion personified: duty, destiny, discipline. But beneath the titles is a boy trained to obey, raised to never fail, and buried under the crushing weight of “You must not fail. You must never fail.” That mantra has turned into his cage.
And then we see it unravel. Arawn isn’t just a leader - he’s someone who’s been taught there is only one acceptable path, and every step away from it feels like betrayal. When love enters the story, it changes everything. Slowly. Painfully. Beautifully. We start to see him question the rules he’s lived by, and for the first time, choose something for himself - even when it means breaking the laws he swore to keep and paying penance for it.
And while Kinleer’s story absolutely changed how I see him - and I sympathize with him more than I ever expected - my heart still belongs to Arawn 💘
I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds… even though I’m already dreading the damage it’s going to do to my poor heart 💔

[Jan farnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firemage is a rich, emotionally driven companion novel that deepens the world of Ravenminder by stepping fully into Arawn Laroux’s perspective. Known in the main series as the fiery, enigmatic twin prince, Arawn finally gets the space to unravel—and the result is quietly devastating in the best way.
Cummings leans hard into character work here. Arawn’s fractured magic mirrors his internal conflict: duty versus desire, loyalty versus longing. The story weaves together moments before and during Ravenminder, adding new emotional weight to familiar scenes while exploring Arawn’s slow-burn connection with Ezer. It’s introspective, tender, and aching, with just enough political tension and magical stakes to keep things grounded in epic fantasy.
This isn’t a book meant to stand alone—it’s a gift for readers already invested in the series. But for fans of tortured princes, restrained romance, and POV retellings that genuinely add depth, Firemage burns bright without overshadowing the main story.
Perfect for readers who love:
twin dynamics, companion novels, emotionally conflicted heroes, and romantasy with heart over heat

[LibraryOfMarta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinlear almost got me for a moment… I truly thought my heart was going to give in.
But no.
It still belongs to Arawn🔥🖤

Arawn and Kinlear are two sides of the same coin. They’ve both suffered, just in very different ways. Kinlear’s pain is physical and visible, written into his illness and his scars.
Arawn’s suffering is silent. Invisible. He carries the crushing weight of destiny: becoming the future king.

The cruelty of his training as Crown Prince is unmatched. He is never given rest, never allowed a moment for himself. He must be flawless at all times, the perfect example… at the cost of repressing his own needs, desires, and humanity.
He is taught to endure, not to live.

So many passages absolutely broke me.

"Until he felt so weak, he could barely even speak. He recited them now with just a breath. A whisper."

And the sacrifice ?!
W.H.A.T DO YOU MEAN LINDSAY ???😩
The fact that Arwan must offer a sacrifice to the gods just to be accepted as king is devastating. How much of himself must he lose before it’s enough?

[MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god? Why isn’t this series more popular?

The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is bc I am team Kinlear, but damn did this book make me love Arawan more. I truly think Soraya is one of the most compelling storylines I have read, and seeing her indirectly through two POV’s has been fascinating. Arawan’s book captured her breaking point, and the moment that ruptured the bond with his brother. Truly incredible, as it gave more depth into his character and the storyline in general.

I loved reading both POV’s because you understand the burdens each brother bear so much more than in Ravenminder alone. Kinlear’s illness and Arawan’s requirement to be the perfect Crown Prince are such at odds, yet give both characters an equally difficult sense of struggle. You understand why Soraya, and now Ezer, are a sense of solace for both, and understand why the other brother gets in the others way. Truly a work of art to balance the two so well.

UGH I LOVE THIS BOOK, I loved Kinlear’s, I love these two, I love the story, and I cannot wait for Ezer’s book.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star read.
Arawn has allways been my favourite brother despite really liking kinlear.
These books have been so good really diving into on who the brothers are and gives us a deep understanding of the individual characters, that will help us with the continuation of the story.
Arawn shows so much character development in this book. He is groomed his whole life to become the king one day and he hides that burden well. The grief, sacrifices and history shaping him to the man he is today. He pushes down his thoughts, wants and needs to be the person he knows he needs to be. He is strong and vulnerable. Even with duty to the throne and to his brother pressing in on every side, he still chooses Ezer. The ending was moving, captivating and heartbreaking all in one and I really don’t know where this journey will take us and I can’t wait for the ride.
This book was unexpected but so very needed.

[laureadswhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙶𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎 𝚅𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜 : 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮

𝚂𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚛𝚙 𝚂𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚎 : 🫑

𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎: “From the second he was born, Arawn Laroux carried the burden of becoming Lordach’s future king.”

𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎 : “I am not sleeping, because when I do, I dream of you.”

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯 : Have I finished this series so far or has it finished me?! Ooof. Bravo.

This man. The opposite of his twin in almost every way. Something they both have in common? They’re both broken boys. Yes, I had a field day.

Arawn, the one who was born to be king, has right and wrong instilled within from birth. The things he saw and started learning at five?! I mean. Oof. He just wanted some freaking cinnamon rolls.

Duty. Love. Weakness. Heartbreak. The war within him. His father’s voice stuck in his head. A love that wasn’t his. A girl who rocks everything. If love is forbidden, is it worth it? If it’s love, can it really be forbidden?