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Soulfyre
Hunted. Powerful. Rare.
Airess Haeleth longs for freedom after a decade of confinement in the capitol. The royals of House Lucien have a different plan for her–intending to marry her off to the crown prince. On the night of the engagement ball, she finds herself dreading her future more than ever. That is until she meets a notorious Fae male that has her going from future queen to traitorous noble overnight.
Hunter. Criminal. Conflicted.
Taryn Seas is an assassin with a mysterious past. When his Guildmaster sends him on a mission to capture a girl of rare power, Taryn believes it’s just another job–until she upends his meticulous plans, and the monarchy places a bounty on both their heads.
Forced to become reluctant allies, Taryn and Airess flee Luciena and the Guild and travel to the only other continent on earth. What begins as a desperate escape quickly turns into a dangerous adventure as they unearth an ancient prophecy, and discover the truth about their world’s history.
As Taryn and Airess grow closer to the truth–and each other–they discover who they truly are… or aren't.
Airess Haeleth longs for freedom after a decade of confinement in the capitol. The royals of House Lucien have a different plan for her–intending to marry her off to the crown prince. On the night of the engagement ball, she finds herself dreading her future more than ever. That is until she meets a notorious Fae male that has her going from future queen to traitorous noble overnight.
Hunter. Criminal. Conflicted.
Taryn Seas is an assassin with a mysterious past. When his Guildmaster sends him on a mission to capture a girl of rare power, Taryn believes it’s just another job–until she upends his meticulous plans, and the monarchy places a bounty on both their heads.
Forced to become reluctant allies, Taryn and Airess flee Luciena and the Guild and travel to the only other continent on earth. What begins as a desperate escape quickly turns into a dangerous adventure as they unearth an ancient prophecy, and discover the truth about their world’s history.
As Taryn and Airess grow closer to the truth–and each other–they discover who they truly are… or aren't.
414 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2026
38 people are currently reading
1518 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Nell
1 book39 followersSamantha Nell is a fantasy romance author from the USA. She resides in the north Georgia mountains with her husband and dog. When she is not writing books, you can find her at a yoga class, baking, or reading (of course). Samantha began writing at a very young age, but decided to work on publishing her own book in 2024. Soulfyre is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
May 8, 2026
Wowww I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series! A really fun new romantasy with fae & elven folklore, interesting magick, political intrigue with a deep gods lore. The reveals were fun and I found it to be a really fast paced story
February 1, 2026
A fast‑paced, magic‑rich fantasy with dreamwalking, shadow wielders, political intrigue, and a slow‑burn bond that kept me turning pages for hours.
Soulfyre is one of those indie fantasies that hooks you early with atmosphere and keeps you reading because you have to know what’s going on. From the moment the mysterious Vulture appears in the prologue, the story sets a tone of danger, secrets, and shifting loyalties that carries through all forty‑two chapters.
Taryn immediately grabbed my attention, fun, sharp, silver‑eyed, and carrying the kind of chaotic energy that makes you trust him and side‑eye him at the same time. I also loved the worldbuilding touches: “the elve” instead of elf, the chest‑centered magic system, and the shadow wielders gifted by the God of Death. It’s a fresh take that feels tactile and intentional.
Airess, meanwhile, is a fascinating mix of sheltered priestess, reluctant power, and dreamwalker. Her ability to slip into dreams is one of the most compelling parts of the book, eerie, vivid, and full of emotional and plot‑driven revelations. Watching her slowly realize what she is (and what she isn’t) was one of my favorite arcs.
And then there’s the lightning and water wielder, protector, and occasional “I’m not good enough for her” brooder. Their dynamic is a true slow burn, full of tension, banter, and moments that made me grin (“Are you flirting with me?” lives rent‑free in my head).
This book is packed with action: assassins, political coups, ancient gods, shady forests, portals, oaths, dream realms, and a magic dagger capable of piercing the veil between worlds. The lore, the five original gods, the Division, the Princess of Stars and Prince of Moon, is intriguing and layered without feeling overwhelming.
There are also some genuinely great emotional beats:
• Airess realizing she can take life
• The “ancient rage” moment (phenomenal description)
• The first kiss
• The bracelet scene
• The reveal about Ima
• The final chapters, which escalate beautifully into a wild ending
By the time the epilogue hit, I was fully invested and already thinking about book two.
• Dreamwalking consistently vivid and compelling
• The magic system, chest‑centered, elemental, and tied to identity
• The slow‑burn romance, balanced with plot, not overshadowing it
• The found‑family threads and loyalty conflicts
• The humor sprinkled throughout (“Won’t you two make beautiful babies” had me laughing)
My biggest critique is the scene breaks. Several transitions felt abrupt, characters would be mid‑conflict or mid‑conversation and then suddenly appear somewhere else with no buffer. It occasionally pulled me out of the moment.
A few sections also felt a bit rushed, especially when major emotional or plot revelations were happening. Nothing that ruined the experience, but moments that could’ve hit even harder with a breath more space.
Final Thoughts: Despite those small pacing bumps, I really enjoyed this story. I read it in a matter of hours because it kept me fully engaged, the magic, the characters, the tension, the twists, the dreamwalking, all of it. It’s imaginative, fast‑moving, and full of potential.
I’m absolutely looking forward to book two. With the way this one ended, it’s going to be epic.
Soulfyre is one of those indie fantasies that hooks you early with atmosphere and keeps you reading because you have to know what’s going on. From the moment the mysterious Vulture appears in the prologue, the story sets a tone of danger, secrets, and shifting loyalties that carries through all forty‑two chapters.
Taryn immediately grabbed my attention, fun, sharp, silver‑eyed, and carrying the kind of chaotic energy that makes you trust him and side‑eye him at the same time. I also loved the worldbuilding touches: “the elve” instead of elf, the chest‑centered magic system, and the shadow wielders gifted by the God of Death. It’s a fresh take that feels tactile and intentional.
Airess, meanwhile, is a fascinating mix of sheltered priestess, reluctant power, and dreamwalker. Her ability to slip into dreams is one of the most compelling parts of the book, eerie, vivid, and full of emotional and plot‑driven revelations. Watching her slowly realize what she is (and what she isn’t) was one of my favorite arcs.
And then there’s the lightning and water wielder, protector, and occasional “I’m not good enough for her” brooder. Their dynamic is a true slow burn, full of tension, banter, and moments that made me grin (“Are you flirting with me?” lives rent‑free in my head).
This book is packed with action: assassins, political coups, ancient gods, shady forests, portals, oaths, dream realms, and a magic dagger capable of piercing the veil between worlds. The lore, the five original gods, the Division, the Princess of Stars and Prince of Moon, is intriguing and layered without feeling overwhelming.
There are also some genuinely great emotional beats:
• Airess realizing she can take life
• The “ancient rage” moment (phenomenal description)
• The first kiss
• The bracelet scene
• The reveal about Ima
• The final chapters, which escalate beautifully into a wild ending
By the time the epilogue hit, I was fully invested and already thinking about book two.
• Dreamwalking consistently vivid and compelling
• The magic system, chest‑centered, elemental, and tied to identity
• The slow‑burn romance, balanced with plot, not overshadowing it
• The found‑family threads and loyalty conflicts
• The humor sprinkled throughout (“Won’t you two make beautiful babies” had me laughing)
My biggest critique is the scene breaks. Several transitions felt abrupt, characters would be mid‑conflict or mid‑conversation and then suddenly appear somewhere else with no buffer. It occasionally pulled me out of the moment.
A few sections also felt a bit rushed, especially when major emotional or plot revelations were happening. Nothing that ruined the experience, but moments that could’ve hit even harder with a breath more space.
Final Thoughts: Despite those small pacing bumps, I really enjoyed this story. I read it in a matter of hours because it kept me fully engaged, the magic, the characters, the tension, the twists, the dreamwalking, all of it. It’s imaginative, fast‑moving, and full of potential.
I’m absolutely looking forward to book two. With the way this one ended, it’s going to be epic.
February 15, 2026
I received and eARC directly from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.
General spoilers are included below. Not major or specific ones, but some general information is discussed.
- ☝️book 1 in a trilogy
- 🖊️ epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter
- 📚multiple POV
- ✨unique multiple timeline
- elemental and energetic magick: shadow 🖤, lightening ⚡️, dreamwalking 😴, water wielding 💧, wind 💨, intention and emotion reading 🧠😅
- 🫣hidden power and identity
- flirty banter 😉
- reluctant allies to friends to lovers ❤️
- 🛏️ one bed and 🐎 one horse tropes
- A male who own his mistakes and says sorry 🙌
- ❤️🔥themes of forgiveness and acceptance of our whole selves, including the dark and ugly
- 🫑 spice
- political maneuvering 👑
This was an excellent read, a solid five stars. This book was unique from other books being published in this genre, which I really appreciated. I will explain why throughout my review. Also, this is the author's debut novel, GREAT WORK!
First, I LOVED LOVED LOVED both MCs in this book.
- The MFC: This woman lived a good chunk of her life abandoned, and then caged, scared, and abused. She learned how to read the room and fawn in order to survive. At the same time, she was making plans on how to get out and escape. She was intelligent, thoughtful, and logical, while also experienced a range of emotions, such as anxiety, which at times overruled her logic. The author did an excellent job creating a real person the reader could relate to. Despite all the crap the MFC went through, she was kind, optimistic (most of the time), and hopeful. Her personality and experiences were unique to this genre, yet realistic and how many trauma survivors are. Unfortunately, this genre seems to hyperfocus and overrepresent trauma as manifesting as severe trust issues, emotion dysregulation, and constantly angry. Now, of course, this is how many people respond to trauma and I love that their response is represented in this genre. However, other trauma responses and personalities are not typically represented. Therefore, this author including a different person was excellent and refreshing.
More about the MFC. She had SUBSTANTIAL character growth. She improved her communication, ability to cope with distress, and became more assertive. I loved reading the parts where the MFC recognized her anxiety and used tools to cope through. The MFC could also see beyond the MMC's faults and violent history, meeting him with empathy, every single time. She was loyal to him. I really love a fated mates that stick together story.
A little more about the loyalty comment. The MFC would not betray the MMC, no matter the good of the realm. She was loyal to her man. This was so refreshing because I read Crown of the Dune and the MFC was more than willing to marry another man for "the good of the realm," all while she kept her loyal MMC a dirty secret. I hated this and quit the series. SO, to have a book where the MFC was loyal, no matter what the King or realm needed, I was so happy and delighted! Also of note, that loyalty was FULLY reciprocated and also why I loved this book. The MMC was loyal to his woman. He would rather stab himself to defy his evil bossman and not hurt the MFC. A fated mate couple that sticks together is my favorite!!!
- Now, the MMC. This man had a history almost identical to the MFC. A history of being abandoned, caged, and abused. Their stories were different in many ways, yet quite parallel to each other. The MMC started having character growth before the book started (i.e., recognizing what he was doing was not good and he needed to get out). The book starts and we see him continue to significantly grow. ALSO, this MMC had insight into the fact that he made mistakes and he would APOLOGIZE. This happened more than once!! He was very protective, feral at times (for her), strong, and masculine, WHILE ALSO kind, vulnerable, consensual, and generally emotionally mature. He wasn’t a jerk.
⭐️⭐️ THIS MMC IS WHAT WE ARE WANTING!! He was so much more well-rounded than typical in this genre and I LOVED it. ⭐️⭐️
Then, of course, the bracelet scene ❤️ 😭
- Let's shift to the relationship: I really appreciated that this book was about reluctant allies to friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers is an excellent trope and I dive head first into those books; however, they make up the bulk of the genre right now. So, to have a shift in the trope to something less angry and aggressive, and more kind, collaborative, and trust building was AMAZING. This book focused on warm discussions, testing the waters with vulnerability, and getting to know each other (instead of constant fighting and internal dialogue about trust). The MCs had so much in common and were fighting for the same things in their lives. They created a beautiful connection and I loved watching it grow and strengthen. Trust was established more easily than other books in this genre since the MFC could read emotions and intentions. I really LOVED this. Again, instead of the book being about fighting and arguing, the story was about building a friendship and finding oneself with support from that friend. I loved the deep rooted loyalty they showed each other at 63% of the book. This had me smiling, as they had each other's backs, and the MFCs words had me melting. The unconditional regard and loyalty they showed each other was demonstrated again and again after that initial incident at 63%.
Further, the author did a great job slowly adding depth to the MCs by switching POVs and timelines. The MCs didn’t get told about each other's traumas, they got to see them while dreaming, which led to us readers seeing them as well.
Common tropes used in this book:
- Both MCs were avoidant of their emotions and each other at times. This included avoiding adult conversations, such as about a kiss they shared and how they were feeling towards each other.
- The MMC thought he wasn’t good enough for the MFC, as he had lived a dangerous life and killed people.
- The MFC was sexually and worldly inexperienced. She was also scared to feel anything since she had been isolated and numb her whole life.
- The MFC had all the men wanting her. The prince of Lucien, the MMC, random men at a bar, and King Roz.
Although the MCs were avoidant at times and were scared to share some of their emotions, the MMC actually shared his thoughts and emotions more often than not and quite early in the book. Most of the time, he was direct, honest, and vulnerable. Another aspect I really really loved about this book. The MMC's blunt vulnerability frequently surprised the MFC, which sparked her to be honest and less avoidant back, creating trust and friendship early. Further, by the end, they moved past the avoidant approaches and leaned into direct communication and honesty, demonstrating their growth.
- Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was that the author did not have MCs who were plagued with constant guilt focused internal dialogue when they had to do what was needed to survive. For example, the MFC was a kind, thoughtful, moral/ethical woman who had never hurt anyone. Once she starts finding her God power, she ends up killing many people because they were going to kill her and/or the MMC. The MFC was not then thinking for chapters and chapters about how guilty she was or how shameful her acts were. Rather, she was able to reflect and have insight that she was 1) growing and 2) needed to do what she needed to do to survive and save the MMC. This was fantastic and saved the plot from getting stalled on the over guilt internal dialogue so many books have. Yes, the MMC had guilt about joining the guild and being an assassin, but he did not have guilt over doing what he had to in order to survive and protect the MFC. He was even turned on by the MFC’s power to save them, which included killing people.
- One more reason I loved the book: both MCs initially kept secrets from each other, yet they didn’t hold a grudge when they found out. They both initially were upset, rightfully so, but they were able to give each other another chance by moving forward and regaining trust. This was fantastic to me because often the plot stalls when a character just can’t let something go.
The rebuilding of trust ends up taking up 50% of the plot. If done right, the author can keep the readers entertained during that stage; however, often it’s not done well and readers get bored. Therefore, I really appreciated that the author focused on forgiveness and second chances, allowing the MC’s to become stronger because it forced them to face their lack of communication skills and grow in that area. Also, in real life, many people are able to let lies or acts of omissions go. So again, I appreciated that the author was representing more diverse approaches in this book than what is typical in this genre.
There was so much mystery to the book and this kept me interested the whole time. Information was slowly revealed as you read, yet there was soooo much unrevealed. Well played to the author on that, because that means we have to read the second book to get more information. Examples:
- The dream walking was very cool, unique, and added more depth and mystery to the plot.
- The secret of who the Vulture was had me thinking the whole time, especially because the Vulture had their own POV chapters. I had a few guesses of who the Vulture was and I was WRONG.
- Then the owl. I was wondering what on earth the owl had to do with anything? I still don’t know.
Other aspects of this book I really enjoyed:
- The magic was unique, but not too complex. There were two major magic systems and then individual powers within those systems. They were really cool!
- I was giddy with joy when the ancient God power would reveal itself, and the MFC was able to have feminine rage. She was able to seek justice to protect herself and her man. Yyyeeessssss!
- I am a clinician and academic, so I loved that the MMC had a passion for research. I liked that the author included a statement about how knowledge was very powerful. As I mentioned earlier, I also liked that anxiety and how to cope with it was included in this book.
- The pacing ebbs and flows from slower to faster. I appreciated this and the change in speed of the pace was well timed.
- The story had a nice blend of plot, mystery, character growth, and relationship development.
- The direct discussions about stereotyping, assumption making, and discrimination about people who are different.
- The themes of proceeding forward, but with caution. This helped emphasize the importance of not avoiding everything and anything, while also not fully trusting right away. Give things/people a change, but don't dive in fully right away.
The ending: Two major pieces of information are dropped right at the end, leaving a delightful cliffhanger. I am so excited for book two!
My one critique (which I informed the author about via email):
- The last book I read the author wrote “I shook my head” over 50 times, which got difficult for me to read. So, with that at the front of my thoughts and moving into this book, I caught it right away. Unfortunately, by page 141 and the author had written "I shook my head" or "he shook his head" 23 times, including three times within two paragraphs. Through the search feature on Kindle, this type of sentence happened 53 times in this book.... with the word "shook" used 62 times total. This silly sentence happened so much I got distracted by my thoughts of, "wow, these people shake a lot." Then I would start to think "do I shake my head when I want to dispel a thought or emotion" and the answer is no, I do not. So, for these characters to do it in the first place was odd, but at the rate they did was extra odd.
General spoilers are included below. Not major or specific ones, but some general information is discussed.
- ☝️book 1 in a trilogy
- 🖊️ epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter
- 📚multiple POV
- ✨unique multiple timeline
- elemental and energetic magick: shadow 🖤, lightening ⚡️, dreamwalking 😴, water wielding 💧, wind 💨, intention and emotion reading 🧠😅
- 🫣hidden power and identity
- flirty banter 😉
- reluctant allies to friends to lovers ❤️
- 🛏️ one bed and 🐎 one horse tropes
- A male who own his mistakes and says sorry 🙌
- ❤️🔥themes of forgiveness and acceptance of our whole selves, including the dark and ugly
- 🫑 spice
- political maneuvering 👑
This was an excellent read, a solid five stars. This book was unique from other books being published in this genre, which I really appreciated. I will explain why throughout my review. Also, this is the author's debut novel, GREAT WORK!
First, I LOVED LOVED LOVED both MCs in this book.
- The MFC: This woman lived a good chunk of her life abandoned, and then caged, scared, and abused. She learned how to read the room and fawn in order to survive. At the same time, she was making plans on how to get out and escape. She was intelligent, thoughtful, and logical, while also experienced a range of emotions, such as anxiety, which at times overruled her logic. The author did an excellent job creating a real person the reader could relate to. Despite all the crap the MFC went through, she was kind, optimistic (most of the time), and hopeful. Her personality and experiences were unique to this genre, yet realistic and how many trauma survivors are. Unfortunately, this genre seems to hyperfocus and overrepresent trauma as manifesting as severe trust issues, emotion dysregulation, and constantly angry. Now, of course, this is how many people respond to trauma and I love that their response is represented in this genre. However, other trauma responses and personalities are not typically represented. Therefore, this author including a different person was excellent and refreshing.
More about the MFC. She had SUBSTANTIAL character growth. She improved her communication, ability to cope with distress, and became more assertive. I loved reading the parts where the MFC recognized her anxiety and used tools to cope through. The MFC could also see beyond the MMC's faults and violent history, meeting him with empathy, every single time. She was loyal to him. I really love a fated mates that stick together story.
A little more about the loyalty comment. The MFC would not betray the MMC, no matter the good of the realm. She was loyal to her man. This was so refreshing because I read Crown of the Dune and the MFC was more than willing to marry another man for "the good of the realm," all while she kept her loyal MMC a dirty secret. I hated this and quit the series. SO, to have a book where the MFC was loyal, no matter what the King or realm needed, I was so happy and delighted! Also of note, that loyalty was FULLY reciprocated and also why I loved this book. The MMC was loyal to his woman. He would rather stab himself to defy his evil bossman and not hurt the MFC. A fated mate couple that sticks together is my favorite!!!
- Now, the MMC. This man had a history almost identical to the MFC. A history of being abandoned, caged, and abused. Their stories were different in many ways, yet quite parallel to each other. The MMC started having character growth before the book started (i.e., recognizing what he was doing was not good and he needed to get out). The book starts and we see him continue to significantly grow. ALSO, this MMC had insight into the fact that he made mistakes and he would APOLOGIZE. This happened more than once!! He was very protective, feral at times (for her), strong, and masculine, WHILE ALSO kind, vulnerable, consensual, and generally emotionally mature. He wasn’t a jerk.
⭐️⭐️ THIS MMC IS WHAT WE ARE WANTING!! He was so much more well-rounded than typical in this genre and I LOVED it. ⭐️⭐️
Then, of course, the bracelet scene ❤️ 😭
- Let's shift to the relationship: I really appreciated that this book was about reluctant allies to friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers is an excellent trope and I dive head first into those books; however, they make up the bulk of the genre right now. So, to have a shift in the trope to something less angry and aggressive, and more kind, collaborative, and trust building was AMAZING. This book focused on warm discussions, testing the waters with vulnerability, and getting to know each other (instead of constant fighting and internal dialogue about trust). The MCs had so much in common and were fighting for the same things in their lives. They created a beautiful connection and I loved watching it grow and strengthen. Trust was established more easily than other books in this genre since the MFC could read emotions and intentions. I really LOVED this. Again, instead of the book being about fighting and arguing, the story was about building a friendship and finding oneself with support from that friend. I loved the deep rooted loyalty they showed each other at 63% of the book. This had me smiling, as they had each other's backs, and the MFCs words had me melting. The unconditional regard and loyalty they showed each other was demonstrated again and again after that initial incident at 63%.
Further, the author did a great job slowly adding depth to the MCs by switching POVs and timelines. The MCs didn’t get told about each other's traumas, they got to see them while dreaming, which led to us readers seeing them as well.
Common tropes used in this book:
- Both MCs were avoidant of their emotions and each other at times. This included avoiding adult conversations, such as about a kiss they shared and how they were feeling towards each other.
- The MMC thought he wasn’t good enough for the MFC, as he had lived a dangerous life and killed people.
- The MFC was sexually and worldly inexperienced. She was also scared to feel anything since she had been isolated and numb her whole life.
- The MFC had all the men wanting her. The prince of Lucien, the MMC, random men at a bar, and King Roz.
Although the MCs were avoidant at times and were scared to share some of their emotions, the MMC actually shared his thoughts and emotions more often than not and quite early in the book. Most of the time, he was direct, honest, and vulnerable. Another aspect I really really loved about this book. The MMC's blunt vulnerability frequently surprised the MFC, which sparked her to be honest and less avoidant back, creating trust and friendship early. Further, by the end, they moved past the avoidant approaches and leaned into direct communication and honesty, demonstrating their growth.
- Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was that the author did not have MCs who were plagued with constant guilt focused internal dialogue when they had to do what was needed to survive. For example, the MFC was a kind, thoughtful, moral/ethical woman who had never hurt anyone. Once she starts finding her God power, she ends up killing many people because they were going to kill her and/or the MMC. The MFC was not then thinking for chapters and chapters about how guilty she was or how shameful her acts were. Rather, she was able to reflect and have insight that she was 1) growing and 2) needed to do what she needed to do to survive and save the MMC. This was fantastic and saved the plot from getting stalled on the over guilt internal dialogue so many books have. Yes, the MMC had guilt about joining the guild and being an assassin, but he did not have guilt over doing what he had to in order to survive and protect the MFC. He was even turned on by the MFC’s power to save them, which included killing people.
- One more reason I loved the book: both MCs initially kept secrets from each other, yet they didn’t hold a grudge when they found out. They both initially were upset, rightfully so, but they were able to give each other another chance by moving forward and regaining trust. This was fantastic to me because often the plot stalls when a character just can’t let something go.
The rebuilding of trust ends up taking up 50% of the plot. If done right, the author can keep the readers entertained during that stage; however, often it’s not done well and readers get bored. Therefore, I really appreciated that the author focused on forgiveness and second chances, allowing the MC’s to become stronger because it forced them to face their lack of communication skills and grow in that area. Also, in real life, many people are able to let lies or acts of omissions go. So again, I appreciated that the author was representing more diverse approaches in this book than what is typical in this genre.
There was so much mystery to the book and this kept me interested the whole time. Information was slowly revealed as you read, yet there was soooo much unrevealed. Well played to the author on that, because that means we have to read the second book to get more information. Examples:
- The dream walking was very cool, unique, and added more depth and mystery to the plot.
- The secret of who the Vulture was had me thinking the whole time, especially because the Vulture had their own POV chapters. I had a few guesses of who the Vulture was and I was WRONG.
- Then the owl. I was wondering what on earth the owl had to do with anything? I still don’t know.
Other aspects of this book I really enjoyed:
- The magic was unique, but not too complex. There were two major magic systems and then individual powers within those systems. They were really cool!
- I was giddy with joy when the ancient God power would reveal itself, and the MFC was able to have feminine rage. She was able to seek justice to protect herself and her man. Yyyeeessssss!
- I am a clinician and academic, so I loved that the MMC had a passion for research. I liked that the author included a statement about how knowledge was very powerful. As I mentioned earlier, I also liked that anxiety and how to cope with it was included in this book.
- The pacing ebbs and flows from slower to faster. I appreciated this and the change in speed of the pace was well timed.
- The story had a nice blend of plot, mystery, character growth, and relationship development.
- The direct discussions about stereotyping, assumption making, and discrimination about people who are different.
- The themes of proceeding forward, but with caution. This helped emphasize the importance of not avoiding everything and anything, while also not fully trusting right away. Give things/people a change, but don't dive in fully right away.
The ending: Two major pieces of information are dropped right at the end, leaving a delightful cliffhanger. I am so excited for book two!
My one critique (which I informed the author about via email):
- The last book I read the author wrote “I shook my head” over 50 times, which got difficult for me to read. So, with that at the front of my thoughts and moving into this book, I caught it right away. Unfortunately, by page 141 and the author had written "I shook my head" or "he shook his head" 23 times, including three times within two paragraphs. Through the search feature on Kindle, this type of sentence happened 53 times in this book.... with the word "shook" used 62 times total. This silly sentence happened so much I got distracted by my thoughts of, "wow, these people shake a lot." Then I would start to think "do I shake my head when I want to dispel a thought or emotion" and the answer is no, I do not. So, for these characters to do it in the first place was odd, but at the rate they did was extra odd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2026
Has the Magick we are all looking for in our romantasy books!
If you’re looking for all the tropes you love, then this is the book for you!
- slow burn
- one bed
- grumpy/sunshine banter
- only one horse
- fated mates
- hidden identities
- prophecy
I also love the astral travel! Felt like i haven’t read that in many books before. So it was a nice change up verses other romantasy books. Also we got Elves, Fae, and Gods. A little bit of everything for everyone!
It was a fun read that kept me entertained the whole time. I can’t wait for the second one!
Plus I am a sucker for a beautiful cover!
If you’re looking for all the tropes you love, then this is the book for you!
- slow burn
- one bed
- grumpy/sunshine banter
- only one horse
- fated mates
- hidden identities
- prophecy
I also love the astral travel! Felt like i haven’t read that in many books before. So it was a nice change up verses other romantasy books. Also we got Elves, Fae, and Gods. A little bit of everything for everyone!
It was a fun read that kept me entertained the whole time. I can’t wait for the second one!
Plus I am a sucker for a beautiful cover!
March 17, 2026
**3.5 Stars**
Soulfyre by debut indie author Samantha Nell is the first installment in The Godsfyre series — a fast paced fantasy with a slow burn romance.
I think this book has beautiful bones. I love that our FMC is soft and our MMC is morally complex. I love the political intrigue and shifting allegiances. I especially love the magic system — the dream walking / astral plane, the ability to read emotional auras, elemental magic, shadow & lightning magic. Even still, though — I had trouble connecting with the characters. It wasn’t until the last 1/3 of the book that I felt it really found its stride.
I think fantasy romance fans of fast-paced stories with plot but not necessarily a tremendous amount of emotional depth or intricate world building will enjoy this book!
Soulfyre by debut indie author Samantha Nell is the first installment in The Godsfyre series — a fast paced fantasy with a slow burn romance.
I think this book has beautiful bones. I love that our FMC is soft and our MMC is morally complex. I love the political intrigue and shifting allegiances. I especially love the magic system — the dream walking / astral plane, the ability to read emotional auras, elemental magic, shadow & lightning magic. Even still, though — I had trouble connecting with the characters. It wasn’t until the last 1/3 of the book that I felt it really found its stride.
I think fantasy romance fans of fast-paced stories with plot but not necessarily a tremendous amount of emotional depth or intricate world building will enjoy this book!
April 10, 2026
Thank you, Samantha Nell, for the ARC of Soulfyre!
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
This story follows Airess, a half-human, half-elven woman who is forced into an arranged marriage with the crown prince. She longs to escape both the cruel royal family and the fate of becoming their future queen. During the wedding festivities, an attack erupts at her reception, and she is taken.
Little did she know, a powerful Fae male named Taryn has been tracking her, tasked with delivering her to a secret guild. However, when he realizes that Airess is not what she seems and may possess extraordinary power, he begins to question his orders. Unwilling to let that power fall into the wrong hands, Taryn defies his mission. Together, they flee to his homeland in search of sanctuary and answers.
I found the foundation of this story very promising. The magic system, world-building, and overall setup for the rest of the series are intriguing and full of potential. However, the pacing felt uneven at times where some sections dragged on, while others felt rushed.
This book will appeal to fans of epic journey fantasy, astral and elemental magic, multiple POVs, and slow-burn romance.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
This story follows Airess, a half-human, half-elven woman who is forced into an arranged marriage with the crown prince. She longs to escape both the cruel royal family and the fate of becoming their future queen. During the wedding festivities, an attack erupts at her reception, and she is taken.
Little did she know, a powerful Fae male named Taryn has been tracking her, tasked with delivering her to a secret guild. However, when he realizes that Airess is not what she seems and may possess extraordinary power, he begins to question his orders. Unwilling to let that power fall into the wrong hands, Taryn defies his mission. Together, they flee to his homeland in search of sanctuary and answers.
I found the foundation of this story very promising. The magic system, world-building, and overall setup for the rest of the series are intriguing and full of potential. However, the pacing felt uneven at times where some sections dragged on, while others felt rushed.
This book will appeal to fans of epic journey fantasy, astral and elemental magic, multiple POVs, and slow-burn romance.
March 25, 2026
ARC Review
OH MY GOSH! I AM BLOWN AWAY! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series!
Airess and Taryn couldn’t catch a break the entire time!!! As soon as they got over one hurdle another would smack them right in the face. I am obsessed with the progression of their relationship.
I should’ve kept a “gasp” count, because the amount of times I was truly shocked was insane in the best way!
I also have theories about the owl and need to find out what’s going on with that little creature!
OH MY GOSH! I AM BLOWN AWAY! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series!
Airess and Taryn couldn’t catch a break the entire time!!! As soon as they got over one hurdle another would smack them right in the face. I am obsessed with the progression of their relationship.
I should’ve kept a “gasp” count, because the amount of times I was truly shocked was insane in the best way!
I also have theories about the owl and need to find out what’s going on with that little creature!
February 13, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Oh. My. God.
That ending??? WHAT was that?!
I did not see that last part coming, and now I’m emotionally spiraling!
I need more of Taryn and Airess ASAP — I have to know what happens next.
Whyyy dear author… why would you do this to us?!
Oh. My. God.
That ending??? WHAT was that?!
I did not see that last part coming, and now I’m emotionally spiraling!
I need more of Taryn and Airess ASAP — I have to know what happens next.
Whyyy dear author… why would you do this to us?!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a lovely first novel by Samantha Nell!
You can tell the author has put so much time into creating a world for her characters and her magic system.
This book was a fast-paced, intriguing romantasy with likeable characters and interesting plot twists!
I absolutely loved the dream walking magic. This was such a creative way for the characters to find things out and an exciting way to move the plot forward!
The ending left me wanting to know what happened next, I was SHOCKED!
I can't wait to see where this story goes and how the author develops her craft over time.
You can tell the author has put so much time into creating a world for her characters and her magic system.
This book was a fast-paced, intriguing romantasy with likeable characters and interesting plot twists!
I absolutely loved the dream walking magic. This was such a creative way for the characters to find things out and an exciting way to move the plot forward!
The ending left me wanting to know what happened next, I was SHOCKED!
I can't wait to see where this story goes and how the author develops her craft over time.
February 4, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up 🌞🌕
Very thankful to have received an ARC of Soulfyre. A big thank you to Samantha and her team for that.
I loved the premise of this! I found the concept of astral / dream travel to be unique (which is relatively hard to achieve in the romantasy space right now). I also thought Taryn was a breath of fresh air as our MMC. As a matter of fact, I found Airess to also be refreshing as a FMC. It was nice to read about characters coming into their power and struggling to understand themselves. It was relatable and made both Airess and Taryn very likable characters.
In the beginning, I felt like the story was a bit choppy but over the course of the book everything started to come together. The scope of this book, and the series it will become is much larger than I anticipated.
I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Very thankful to have received an ARC of Soulfyre. A big thank you to Samantha and her team for that.
I loved the premise of this! I found the concept of astral / dream travel to be unique (which is relatively hard to achieve in the romantasy space right now). I also thought Taryn was a breath of fresh air as our MMC. As a matter of fact, I found Airess to also be refreshing as a FMC. It was nice to read about characters coming into their power and struggling to understand themselves. It was relatable and made both Airess and Taryn very likable characters.
In the beginning, I felt like the story was a bit choppy but over the course of the book everything started to come together. The scope of this book, and the series it will become is much larger than I anticipated.
I look forward to seeing what comes next!
March 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
*Thank you to Samantha Nell for the opportunity to read an ARC of Soulfyre in exchange for my honest review!*
🌕"Sun & Moon will always find each other in every life. Their souls tied, where one goes, so does the other"☀️
With political intrigue, Elves, Fae and a budding romance between the two main characters, Samantha Nell’s debut is brimming with excitement and beautiful storytelling!
I have to admit, the first 40% of the book was a bit slow to start BUT it might just be me as I’ve been in a reading slump the past few weeks. Regardless I am so happy I continued on and pushed through because OMFG? Once it picks up, it is nothing but intense action and SUCH a big twist that my JAW DROPPED!
I have to also mention that when we get to The Twins… oh, my horror loving heart was SOARING at the genuine creepiness and gruesomeness of that scene! I had CHILLS the whole time and I hope Samantha Nell continues to use such creepy imagery in this series when appropriate! I love fantasy books that aren’t afraid to dip their toes in a little bit of the horror elements showcasing just how dark things can get in these worlds.
This is a seriously slow, slow burn and I was at the edge of my seat waiting for Airess and Taryn to admit their attraction to each other. Don’t get me wrong I love a SLOW burn!
There is one little spicy scene and I’m hoping for more of their intense chemistry in book 2 because holy moly Taryn is addicting with his sarcasm, smugness and over protectiveness😩
I loved seeing Airess grow into herself and find her voice after spending her whole life tucked away, being groomed for a life she didn’t want. She is powerful, intelligent and so, so kind and she doesn’t even know how powerful she is just yet and I CANNOT wait to see her blossom even more!
Taryn is, at first very unserious and playful and it took me a while to see him for who he is. He is troubled, tormented and regretful of the life he’s lived. It’s not until he meets Airess that things start making sense for him (it doesn’t happen right away, Airess is a very patient woman lol) and it was so satisfying to see him finally accept who he is and also accept her. I definitely warmed up to his boyish charms and am very in love with him now!😭
🔥“Love me. Ruin me. Claim me, Tarynon.”🔥
The magic system is so beautiful! I love Samantha Nell’s take on elemental magic and the world building of the Fae and Elves. It felt very fresh and original and was the main part of the plot that kept me hooked!! The astral traveling was so exciting and the shared magic? I am obsessed!!
The reveal at the end?? THAT TWIST?? oh my god I genuinely did NOT expect it to be THEM??!! I am going to be DYING waiting for the next book in this series!
🌶️.5
*Thank you to Samantha Nell for the opportunity to read an ARC of Soulfyre in exchange for my honest review!*
🌕"Sun & Moon will always find each other in every life. Their souls tied, where one goes, so does the other"☀️
With political intrigue, Elves, Fae and a budding romance between the two main characters, Samantha Nell’s debut is brimming with excitement and beautiful storytelling!
I have to admit, the first 40% of the book was a bit slow to start BUT it might just be me as I’ve been in a reading slump the past few weeks. Regardless I am so happy I continued on and pushed through because OMFG? Once it picks up, it is nothing but intense action and SUCH a big twist that my JAW DROPPED!
I have to also mention that when we get to The Twins… oh, my horror loving heart was SOARING at the genuine creepiness and gruesomeness of that scene! I had CHILLS the whole time and I hope Samantha Nell continues to use such creepy imagery in this series when appropriate! I love fantasy books that aren’t afraid to dip their toes in a little bit of the horror elements showcasing just how dark things can get in these worlds.
This is a seriously slow, slow burn and I was at the edge of my seat waiting for Airess and Taryn to admit their attraction to each other. Don’t get me wrong I love a SLOW burn!
There is one little spicy scene and I’m hoping for more of their intense chemistry in book 2 because holy moly Taryn is addicting with his sarcasm, smugness and over protectiveness😩
I loved seeing Airess grow into herself and find her voice after spending her whole life tucked away, being groomed for a life she didn’t want. She is powerful, intelligent and so, so kind and she doesn’t even know how powerful she is just yet and I CANNOT wait to see her blossom even more!
Taryn is, at first very unserious and playful and it took me a while to see him for who he is. He is troubled, tormented and regretful of the life he’s lived. It’s not until he meets Airess that things start making sense for him (it doesn’t happen right away, Airess is a very patient woman lol) and it was so satisfying to see him finally accept who he is and also accept her. I definitely warmed up to his boyish charms and am very in love with him now!😭
🔥“Love me. Ruin me. Claim me, Tarynon.”🔥
The magic system is so beautiful! I love Samantha Nell’s take on elemental magic and the world building of the Fae and Elves. It felt very fresh and original and was the main part of the plot that kept me hooked!! The astral traveling was so exciting and the shared magic? I am obsessed!!
The reveal at the end?? THAT TWIST?? oh my god I genuinely did NOT expect it to be THEM??!! I am going to be DYING waiting for the next book in this series!
February 2, 2026
This book is for the readers that love the “one horse” trope (ok so that’s not a trope per say I know it’s “one bed” but still - forced proximity am I right) but don’t worry there’s a “one bed” in here too. This is for the readers that love a good slow burn where he trains her to protect herself, where he would do anything to keep her safe. For the readers that want a little magick in their world.
Our FMC Airess Haeleth is a 20-year-old halfling (half-human, half-elf) that has spent the past decade forced to play dress up for the current Queen Melanth, all while waiting for her upcoming wedding to the seriously monstrous prince Arzhel Lucien. In a world where magick has become less and less our FMC has fought to keep some of her powers a secret. On the eve of her wedding The Obadiah (a society her late mother was a member of) seize the opportunity to take Airess, but their "rescue" is short-lived. Taryn, our seriously swoon worth, MMC is tasked by his guild leader (Eryx) to kidnap her himself.
Taryn Seas quickly becomes an unlikely ally after the pair find themselves in custody and forced to work together to escape the crown. This book is perfect for anyone that loves a fiercely protective male, have I mentioned he’s tall, dark and handsome. A curly hair, tattooed, muscled Fae with a protective side is always on my yes please list.
Not only do we get a dual POV (which I live for) but we get a third POVas our main characters are stalked by a mysterious being called The Vulture. The Vulture is working for someone who wants to erase Taryn and containing Airess. And when we found out who the vulture is - mind blown.
I found myself unable to put this book down- needing to understand just how this pair come to share a power called dream walking (one that Airess has kept a secret since she was a child) and what they could mean not only for them but their world.
Samantha Nell does a wonderful job with pacing, character development (I typically love myself a bad boy and while one could describe Taryn as one (you know assassin and all), he is such a cinnamon roll for Airess; and I’m here for it) and world building. Now when an author has book 1 you can only assume there will be more books to follow and I have got to say I’m going to be impatiently waiting for book 2 - and more from this author.
Thank you to Samantha Nell for picking me to be an ARC reader, I had such a good time reading your book. Now without further ado here are some of my favorite quotes
“She was a glittering star among the darkness, a calm wave in a raging sea.”
“I would commit atrocities for you if it meant having you by my side... I don’t want to tarnish you by claiming you, but I am learning that I am a selfish, selfish male.”
“If darkness is where you are, then I’ll happily meet you there.”
Our FMC Airess Haeleth is a 20-year-old halfling (half-human, half-elf) that has spent the past decade forced to play dress up for the current Queen Melanth, all while waiting for her upcoming wedding to the seriously monstrous prince Arzhel Lucien. In a world where magick has become less and less our FMC has fought to keep some of her powers a secret. On the eve of her wedding The Obadiah (a society her late mother was a member of) seize the opportunity to take Airess, but their "rescue" is short-lived. Taryn, our seriously swoon worth, MMC is tasked by his guild leader (Eryx) to kidnap her himself.
Taryn Seas quickly becomes an unlikely ally after the pair find themselves in custody and forced to work together to escape the crown. This book is perfect for anyone that loves a fiercely protective male, have I mentioned he’s tall, dark and handsome. A curly hair, tattooed, muscled Fae with a protective side is always on my yes please list.
Not only do we get a dual POV (which I live for) but we get a third POVas our main characters are stalked by a mysterious being called The Vulture. The Vulture is working for someone who wants to erase Taryn and containing Airess. And when we found out who the vulture is - mind blown.
I found myself unable to put this book down- needing to understand just how this pair come to share a power called dream walking (one that Airess has kept a secret since she was a child) and what they could mean not only for them but their world.
Samantha Nell does a wonderful job with pacing, character development (I typically love myself a bad boy and while one could describe Taryn as one (you know assassin and all), he is such a cinnamon roll for Airess; and I’m here for it) and world building. Now when an author has book 1 you can only assume there will be more books to follow and I have got to say I’m going to be impatiently waiting for book 2 - and more from this author.
Thank you to Samantha Nell for picking me to be an ARC reader, I had such a good time reading your book. Now without further ado here are some of my favorite quotes
“She was a glittering star among the darkness, a calm wave in a raging sea.”
“I would commit atrocities for you if it meant having you by my side... I don’t want to tarnish you by claiming you, but I am learning that I am a selfish, selfish male.”
“If darkness is where you are, then I’ll happily meet you there.”
February 4, 2026
Soulfyre by Samantha Nell was completely consuming in the best possible way.
From the opening chapters, this story pulled me in and never let go. The worldbuilding is rich, vivid, and beautifully descriptive without ever feeling heavy or overwhelming. The plot is incredibly creative and layered, and I found myself constantly thinking I would read just one more chapter only to realize hours had passed.
The characters are what truly made this book unforgettable. The FMC is strong, bold, and wonderfully complex. She carries both power and vulnerability in a way that feels real and deeply compelling. The MMC is the perfect counterpart to her. He complements her strength rather than competing with it, and their dynamic feels natural, balanced, and earned. Their relationship develops at a steady and believable pace, never rushed or forced, which made it all the more addictive.
What stood out most to me was how emotionally dynamic this story was. The plot is unpredictable and kept me on edge throughout, while still maintaining an elegant balance between romance, drama, and tension. The story took me through so many emotions. Anticipation, surprise, hope, and ache. I genuinely never knew what was coming next, and I loved that feeling.
Soulfyre is immersive, engaging, and thoughtfully written. It strikes a rare balance between strong character development and a gripping plot, making it impossible to put down. I finished this book already eager for more and cannot wait to continue the series.
If you love fantasy romance with compelling characters, meaningful relationships, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is absolutely worth reading.
From the opening chapters, this story pulled me in and never let go. The worldbuilding is rich, vivid, and beautifully descriptive without ever feeling heavy or overwhelming. The plot is incredibly creative and layered, and I found myself constantly thinking I would read just one more chapter only to realize hours had passed.
The characters are what truly made this book unforgettable. The FMC is strong, bold, and wonderfully complex. She carries both power and vulnerability in a way that feels real and deeply compelling. The MMC is the perfect counterpart to her. He complements her strength rather than competing with it, and their dynamic feels natural, balanced, and earned. Their relationship develops at a steady and believable pace, never rushed or forced, which made it all the more addictive.
What stood out most to me was how emotionally dynamic this story was. The plot is unpredictable and kept me on edge throughout, while still maintaining an elegant balance between romance, drama, and tension. The story took me through so many emotions. Anticipation, surprise, hope, and ache. I genuinely never knew what was coming next, and I loved that feeling.
Soulfyre is immersive, engaging, and thoughtfully written. It strikes a rare balance between strong character development and a gripping plot, making it impossible to put down. I finished this book already eager for more and cannot wait to continue the series.
If you love fantasy romance with compelling characters, meaningful relationships, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is absolutely worth reading.
March 2, 2026
Being part of this ARC team was such a gift because this book completely swept me away.The story follows Airess Haeleth a powerful and rare woman who has spent a decade confined in the capital while her royal family plans to marry her off to the crown prince. On the night of her engagement ball everything changes when she crosses paths with Taryn Seas a notorious Fae assassin with a complicated past. What begins as a mission for him to capture a girl with rare power quickly spirals into something far bigger. Suddenly both of them are on the run hunted by the monarchy and the guild.Forced into an uneasy alliance Airess and Taryn flee their homeland and travel to another continent, where their desperate escape turns into a much larger journey. Along the way they uncover an ancient prophecy and secrets about the history of their world that change everything they thought they knew. As they search for answers they also begin to confront who they really are and who they might become. I loved this book. The magic, the backstories , the slow unraveling of the prophecy, and the relationship between Airess and Taryn all felt so immersive. The world building had that kind of fantasy atmosphere that pulls you in and makes you forget about everything else for a while.It honestly felt like pure magic reading this story. I’m so grateful I got to be part of the ARC team and experience it early. If you love fantasy with Fae, adventure, hidden truths, and characters who are constantly walking the line between destiny and choice this is the one!!
February 5, 2026
Thank you SO much to the author for this eARC!! This was incredible! Fast passed, third person multiple POV, hidden identity, secret powers/heritage, captive-to-lovers, fated mates, prophecy..definitely a 5 star for the vibes romantasy that I could not put down. The banter, the tension, the yearning. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did! The perfect blend of plot and romance.
A God & Godling magick system, with different abilities granted to different species. Human, elven, fae. FMC is half human, half elven & MMC is fae. A world split by dark magick, with a prophecy for it to reunite, and everyone (except those that are actually prophecised) wants the power. The plot twists at the end, the vultures’s identity (like WHAT?), Taryn finally accepting himself 🥹
If you enjoyed The Sacred Stones Trilogy & The Compelling Fates Saga, this is for you! I truly expect this series to blow up. I look forward to the next installment and seeing more from this author!!
A God & Godling magick system, with different abilities granted to different species. Human, elven, fae. FMC is half human, half elven & MMC is fae. A world split by dark magick, with a prophecy for it to reunite, and everyone (except those that are actually prophecised) wants the power. The plot twists at the end, the vultures’s identity (like WHAT?), Taryn finally accepting himself 🥹
If you enjoyed The Sacred Stones Trilogy & The Compelling Fates Saga, this is for you! I truly expect this series to blow up. I look forward to the next installment and seeing more from this author!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader of Soulfyre, and I really enjoyed it. Having just started my journey into the romantasy world last summer, I noticed very similar themes and tropes among all the titles I've read so far. Some have quite a bit of overlap that makes you wonder if they're even original, but with Soulfyre, I only had that "deja vu" feeling a few times. Overall, though, the story played out differently than you might expect, and I enjoyed it even more for that reason.
In reading the story of Taryn and Airess, there is definitely a romantic element. However, I would say this story is more fantasy than romance. There are flirtatious moments and emotionally intimate moments as well, but if you are looking for something more on the spicy side, this one may not be for you.
With that said, if you enjoy a good fantasy story with characters who are interesting and have complicated histories, you will love Soulfyre.
In reading the story of Taryn and Airess, there is definitely a romantic element. However, I would say this story is more fantasy than romance. There are flirtatious moments and emotionally intimate moments as well, but if you are looking for something more on the spicy side, this one may not be for you.
With that said, if you enjoy a good fantasy story with characters who are interesting and have complicated histories, you will love Soulfyre.
February 6, 2026
A great debut with a lot of potential!
Some things that I enjoyed:
- I really liked that Airess is a softer FMC. In a lot of romantasy, the female lead is the stereotypical “badass warrior,” so it was refreshing to see a character whose strength felt quieter and more emotional. She was still powerful in her own way, which made her feel very relatable and easy to root for.
- I loooved Taryn. I always looked forward to his chapters, and his POV added so much heart to the story. He quickly became one of my favorite parts of the book.
- The magic system was super unique. I’ve never read anything with astral and dreamstate magic before, and it felt creative and fresh without being confusing. It definitely stood out.
- The chapter in The Twins Forest (iykyk) was SO suspenseful. I read it late at night and was actually getting a little creeped out. The atmosphere there was done really well.
- The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter were such a nice touch. Some of them genuinely gave me chills and added extra depth and mystery to the world.
- The mystery villain POV added a fun, suspenseful element and kept me curious about what was really going on behind the scenes. AND THE REVEAL??? I was honestly shocked!
- And THE COVER. Omg. Absolutely gorgeous. It fits the story perfectly and immediately caught my attention.
- The second half especially had me hooked. Once the plot picked up, I flew through the last 40% in one sitting because I just needed to know what happened next.
A few issues (mostly minor) that held it back for me:
- The book starts off strong and action-packed, but the pacing slows down quite a bit through the first half. It took me longer to get through those sections. Thankfully, the second half really picks up and becomes much more engaging.
- There were a handful of grammar and punctuation issues throughout (tense mix-ups, comma/period errors, capitalization after dialogue, and a few misspellings). Nothing major, but enough that it occasionally pulled me out of the story.
- The slow burn romance didn’t fully feel like a slow burn to me. It leaned more toward insta-attraction/insta-connection at first, so the emotional buildup wasn’t as strong as I hoped. That said, I still ended up really liking them together.
Overall, this was a strong debut with a lot of promise. There were a few small things that didn’t totally work for me, but I really enjoyed the characters, the magic, and the concept. I’m excited to see how Samantha grows as an author and will definitely be picking up book two. 🩷🧚✨
Some things that I enjoyed:
- I really liked that Airess is a softer FMC. In a lot of romantasy, the female lead is the stereotypical “badass warrior,” so it was refreshing to see a character whose strength felt quieter and more emotional. She was still powerful in her own way, which made her feel very relatable and easy to root for.
- I loooved Taryn. I always looked forward to his chapters, and his POV added so much heart to the story. He quickly became one of my favorite parts of the book.
- The magic system was super unique. I’ve never read anything with astral and dreamstate magic before, and it felt creative and fresh without being confusing. It definitely stood out.
- The chapter in The Twins Forest (iykyk) was SO suspenseful. I read it late at night and was actually getting a little creeped out. The atmosphere there was done really well.
- The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter were such a nice touch. Some of them genuinely gave me chills and added extra depth and mystery to the world.
- The mystery villain POV added a fun, suspenseful element and kept me curious about what was really going on behind the scenes. AND THE REVEAL??? I was honestly shocked!
- And THE COVER. Omg. Absolutely gorgeous. It fits the story perfectly and immediately caught my attention.
- The second half especially had me hooked. Once the plot picked up, I flew through the last 40% in one sitting because I just needed to know what happened next.
A few issues (mostly minor) that held it back for me:
- The book starts off strong and action-packed, but the pacing slows down quite a bit through the first half. It took me longer to get through those sections. Thankfully, the second half really picks up and becomes much more engaging.
- There were a handful of grammar and punctuation issues throughout (tense mix-ups, comma/period errors, capitalization after dialogue, and a few misspellings). Nothing major, but enough that it occasionally pulled me out of the story.
- The slow burn romance didn’t fully feel like a slow burn to me. It leaned more toward insta-attraction/insta-connection at first, so the emotional buildup wasn’t as strong as I hoped. That said, I still ended up really liking them together.
Overall, this was a strong debut with a lot of promise. There were a few small things that didn’t totally work for me, but I really enjoyed the characters, the magic, and the concept. I’m excited to see how Samantha grows as an author and will definitely be picking up book two. 🩷🧚✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my god! What was that ending😱!? It was so shocking, I never saw it coming! That plot twist blew my mind, I can't stop thinking about it and what's to come! That being said I'm looking forward to the second book!
A lot of questions got answered towards the end, and countless pieces have fallen into place and thankfully everything got connected.
There were so many unique aspects to this story; Dreamwalking, Magic system, Gods, Godlings, Abilities and Powers, it was so refreshing to learn and read about them. There was a point in the book that was very scary to read about, that added horror element was truly too good and unique. (Just a heads up, don't read that part late at night like I did).
This was my first time reading about Elvens and Fae together in a book about power shifts, how they view each other and such an intricate world building. That is something that has drawn me in from the very start.
Trust is a hard thing to give, especially between two strangers at the very start of them meeting, which was very chaotic, to say the least!
Honestly, I felt like for them, it was natural on a deeper level and somehow it clicked. Little by little it was silently building, with healing, understanding, with feelings and tension brewing, until we learn as a reader what they are to each other. I love them together!
This quote stuck with me: "I am not my anxiety." I never expected to find something so inspirational, and something I needed so much in a book. ♥️
Here are some of my favorites:
-"Sun and Moon will always find each other in every life. Their souls are tied, where one goes, so does the other."
-"This journey isn’t for the weak, and I get the feeling you aren’t weak. You just need some guidance.”
-“Have you ever considered I have darkness as well? Have you ever considered that I might ruin you?”
-"His gaze slid down her body, leaving heat in its wake, until it landed at the flush of their hips pressed against each other. Taryn’s lips curved, maddeningly slow. “Are you flirting with me?"
I’m very grateful to the author for the opportunity to read this arc!
A lot of questions got answered towards the end, and countless pieces have fallen into place and thankfully everything got connected.
There were so many unique aspects to this story; Dreamwalking, Magic system, Gods, Godlings, Abilities and Powers, it was so refreshing to learn and read about them. There was a point in the book that was very scary to read about, that added horror element was truly too good and unique. (Just a heads up, don't read that part late at night like I did).
This was my first time reading about Elvens and Fae together in a book about power shifts, how they view each other and such an intricate world building. That is something that has drawn me in from the very start.
Trust is a hard thing to give, especially between two strangers at the very start of them meeting, which was very chaotic, to say the least!
Honestly, I felt like for them, it was natural on a deeper level and somehow it clicked. Little by little it was silently building, with healing, understanding, with feelings and tension brewing, until we learn as a reader what they are to each other. I love them together!
This quote stuck with me: "I am not my anxiety." I never expected to find something so inspirational, and something I needed so much in a book. ♥️
Here are some of my favorites:
-"Sun and Moon will always find each other in every life. Their souls are tied, where one goes, so does the other."
-"This journey isn’t for the weak, and I get the feeling you aren’t weak. You just need some guidance.”
-“Have you ever considered I have darkness as well? Have you ever considered that I might ruin you?”
-"His gaze slid down her body, leaving heat in its wake, until it landed at the flush of their hips pressed against each other. Taryn’s lips curved, maddeningly slow. “Are you flirting with me?"
I’m very grateful to the author for the opportunity to read this arc!
February 5, 2026
3.5!
I thoroughly enjoyed the last third of this book. The majority of the lore, worldbuilding, and plot really come together in the final 150 pages, and the ending was fun and kept me on my toes.
That said, I did have a few minor issues leading up to that point. Early on, I felt there was a lack of worldbuilding, background for our two main characters, and a clear understanding of how magic functions in this world. Personally, I think I would’ve benefitted from an additional 100 pages at the front of the book to bring out these elements, which would have helped me feel more grounded in the world and more connected to the characters.
Another aspect that felt a bit underdeveloped for me was seeing actions fully support what we’re told. For example, we’re often told that the MMC has done terrible things in his past, but we don’t get many on-page moments that really show his morally gray nature.
Lastly, I really enjoyed the mystery villain “Vulture” POVs and thought they added an interesting layer to the story, though there were a few aspects of the book that made it fairly easy to guess whose POV it was earlier on.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced romantasy with a strong ending and lots of fun twists, especially for anyone who enjoys lighter worldbuilding up front with big reveals toward the end. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC!
I thoroughly enjoyed the last third of this book. The majority of the lore, worldbuilding, and plot really come together in the final 150 pages, and the ending was fun and kept me on my toes.
That said, I did have a few minor issues leading up to that point. Early on, I felt there was a lack of worldbuilding, background for our two main characters, and a clear understanding of how magic functions in this world. Personally, I think I would’ve benefitted from an additional 100 pages at the front of the book to bring out these elements, which would have helped me feel more grounded in the world and more connected to the characters.
Another aspect that felt a bit underdeveloped for me was seeing actions fully support what we’re told. For example, we’re often told that the MMC has done terrible things in his past, but we don’t get many on-page moments that really show his morally gray nature.
Lastly, I really enjoyed the mystery villain “Vulture” POVs and thought they added an interesting layer to the story, though there were a few aspects of the book that made it fairly easy to guess whose POV it was earlier on.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced romantasy with a strong ending and lots of fun twists, especially for anyone who enjoys lighter worldbuilding up front with big reveals toward the end. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC!
March 18, 2026
Soulfyre is an impressive debut by Samantha Nell. There is a lot to like about this Romantasy and she packed quite a bit into this book one of the Godsfyre series. The world building is and lore is easy to pick up and I felt like I had a good grasp on the plot and back story of our characters. The magic system was exciting especially since it wasn’t completely present from the beginning. The FMC is a bit more soft a clumsy and insted of this being an enemies to lovers I would say it pretty quickly goes from reluctant allies to friends to lovers and as much as I usually like a more rocky start it was actually pretty cute watching Airess and Taryn’s story evolve. It has two of my favorite trope meddling Gods and I guess this is more of a microtrope when he’s fae and she’s not so he can tell that she’s into him by scenting her and hearing her shift in breathing and heartbeat and all that but she doesn’t even realize it 🥵 Gets me every time. The pacing is good. Slows down slightly while they go on a journey for a bit but that’s some get to know you time. And the last 30% or so really picks up. I am definitely sticking around for book two because that twist at the end was unexpected.
A copy of this book was provided by the author. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
A copy of this book was provided by the author. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
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February 19, 20263.5 ⭐️First of all, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its release date. I truly appreciated being an early reader.
The story starts off very strong. It brings a fresh sense of inspiration, and the Dreamwalk concept is genuinely amazing such a creative and exciting idea. It immediately pulled me in and made me curious about where the story would go.
However, somewhere along the way, I felt like something was missing though I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly. Every time I thought the story was picking up momentum again, there was still something that didn’t fully hold my attention. A lot happens throughout the book, yet at the same time it sometimes felt like nothing really happens.
The dynamic between the FMC and MMC is also a bit inconsistent for me. At times there’s a real spark between them, and I feel the chemistry clearly. Other times, that connection seems to fade, and I struggle to feel it.
I’m honestly conflicted about this book. I do think it has a lot of potential, and there are definitely strong elements, but there were also moments where I found myself feeling bored while reading.
The story starts off very strong. It brings a fresh sense of inspiration, and the Dreamwalk concept is genuinely amazing such a creative and exciting idea. It immediately pulled me in and made me curious about where the story would go.
However, somewhere along the way, I felt like something was missing though I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly. Every time I thought the story was picking up momentum again, there was still something that didn’t fully hold my attention. A lot happens throughout the book, yet at the same time it sometimes felt like nothing really happens.
The dynamic between the FMC and MMC is also a bit inconsistent for me. At times there’s a real spark between them, and I feel the chemistry clearly. Other times, that connection seems to fade, and I struggle to feel it.
I’m honestly conflicted about this book. I do think it has a lot of potential, and there are definitely strong elements, but there were also moments where I found myself feeling bored while reading.
March 22, 2026
Oh my gosh! I’m not sure I can form words!
This book was absolutely amazing. The world building was so beautifully laid out for you. The characters were written in a way that was so unlike a lot of books I’ve read.
The pace this book kept was also a thing of beauty. The story continuously flowed and left you always wanting to know more. Filling you in at the most perfect times. The shocker at the end of who the Vulture was, I kid you not I audibly gasped! I never saw that one coming!!! AMAZING!!
Airess had a character arc that was so relatable. She felt powerless but realized through the story how absolutely untrue that was. She realized her worth and even though she was questioned it she always stayed true to herself. Taryn…gods I love him. He didn’t think he ever deserved to be happy then Airess came into his life and he would *almost literally* murder anyone who even dared to look in her direction. And what woman wouldn’t love that???
There was no horrible cliffhanger at the end but it still ended in a way that left me dyinggggg for book 2!! I cannot wait to see where this story goes!!! Thank you Samantha Nell for this ARC!!!!
This book was absolutely amazing. The world building was so beautifully laid out for you. The characters were written in a way that was so unlike a lot of books I’ve read.
The pace this book kept was also a thing of beauty. The story continuously flowed and left you always wanting to know more. Filling you in at the most perfect times. The shocker at the end of who the Vulture was, I kid you not I audibly gasped! I never saw that one coming!!! AMAZING!!
Airess had a character arc that was so relatable. She felt powerless but realized through the story how absolutely untrue that was. She realized her worth and even though she was questioned it she always stayed true to herself. Taryn…gods I love him. He didn’t think he ever deserved to be happy then Airess came into his life and he would *almost literally* murder anyone who even dared to look in her direction. And what woman wouldn’t love that???
There was no horrible cliffhanger at the end but it still ended in a way that left me dyinggggg for book 2!! I cannot wait to see where this story goes!!! Thank you Samantha Nell for this ARC!!!!
February 21, 2026
Så roligt att få läsa denna bok innan den släpps och få äran att vara en av Samantha Nells Arc readers till hennes debut bok! Det var en bok värd att läsa! 😍
Boken var väldigt bra, lite seg till en början men det gjorde inget utan det blev snabbt mer spännande och desto längre in man kom desto mer fast blev jag. Jag gillade huvudkaraktärerna och deras personligheter och deras dynamik. Gillade även väldigt mycket om att få läsa hur bådas perspektiv samt ur the vulture. Sedan gillade jag även hela upplägget med magi, gudar och profetian.
Nu längtar jag och hoppas efter en till bok för att få fortsätta följa deras story 😍
Boken var väldigt bra, lite seg till en början men det gjorde inget utan det blev snabbt mer spännande och desto längre in man kom desto mer fast blev jag. Jag gillade huvudkaraktärerna och deras personligheter och deras dynamik. Gillade även väldigt mycket om att få läsa hur bådas perspektiv samt ur the vulture. Sedan gillade jag även hela upplägget med magi, gudar och profetian.
Nu längtar jag och hoppas efter en till bok för att få fortsätta följa deras story 😍
March 24, 2026
This book was phenomenal. And this was a debut novel!! I cannot wait to read more from Samantha Nell.
A high-fantasy, slow-burn, fated mates story filled with magick, self-discovery, longing, suspense, all of the good stuff!!! It is well written, the world building is great, cannot wait for it to expand, and the main characters are to die for.
Airess, our FMC, is intelligent, strong-minded, and resilient. I say this in all of my reviews but it is important and rare…she did not annoy me! I adore her. I know she will only grow more confident, especially with Taryn by her side.
Taryn, our MMC, is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and ever the gentleman. Airess, helps him see his true value. (Ugh, I love a female that just uses her love and loyalty to show their man how valued they are.)
“Love me. Ruin me. Claim me.” I mean, come on!!!
I love them!! I cannot wait to see them grow individually and stronger in their bond.
I could write SO much more, however, I try to keep my reviews short, sweet and spoiler free.
I love reading author’s acknowledgments. Samantha, this book made me feel so many emotions, so you’ve got at least one reader. :) THANK YOU! I need book 2 ASAP!
A high-fantasy, slow-burn, fated mates story filled with magick, self-discovery, longing, suspense, all of the good stuff!!! It is well written, the world building is great, cannot wait for it to expand, and the main characters are to die for.
Airess, our FMC, is intelligent, strong-minded, and resilient. I say this in all of my reviews but it is important and rare…she did not annoy me! I adore her. I know she will only grow more confident, especially with Taryn by her side.
Taryn, our MMC, is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and ever the gentleman. Airess, helps him see his true value. (Ugh, I love a female that just uses her love and loyalty to show their man how valued they are.)
“Love me. Ruin me. Claim me.” I mean, come on!!!
I love them!! I cannot wait to see them grow individually and stronger in their bond.
I could write SO much more, however, I try to keep my reviews short, sweet and spoiler free.
I love reading author’s acknowledgments. Samantha, this book made me feel so many emotions, so you’ve got at least one reader. :) THANK YOU! I need book 2 ASAP!
April 20, 2026
This was a really good debut romantasy. It had lots of world building and character development. Also great tropes like fated mates, Gods/Godlings, one horse & one bed and hidden identities. The ending left it open for so much more to happen in the next book.
Thank you to the author for the arc of this book.
Thank you to the author for the arc of this book.
May 10, 2026
I didn’t move from the spot in my couch for about 11 hours because I literally couldn’t out this book down. I NEED BOOK TWO SAMANTHA PLS
March 25, 2026
I am personally not a big fan ACOTAR or Fourth Wing (I know, I’m the odd one out.) So I wasn’t sure if I would like this genre/style of book. I followed the author online and she is mesmerizing, so I applied to be an ARC reader to see if maybe this could be a book I could get into. I’m really glad I did and that I got the honor of being chosen! She is very upfront about what to expect when picking up this book. If an author is essentially writing fan fiction of 5 books put together (*cough cough* ACOTAR), then just let me know so I can appreciate it! I love that I knew what I was walking into and could see the brilliance and thought that went into the story. It was thought out, well written, and achieved what she set out to do. I can’t wait for the next book and will be pre-ordering it.
February 11, 2026
2.5⭐️ rounded up
This was by no means a bad book, just kinda rough around the edges. Dialogue was a little choppy and the sentence structure could use some polishing in places. The story was good. The magic system was surprisingly fleshed out and there’s definite room for world building in the second installment.
My biggest issue was the romance. It felt too rushed and too slow all at once and I’m not sure how to feel about that. I feel like Taryn and Airess’ relationship had a really beautiful element to it going from reluctant allies to friends, and it kind of got muddied a bit at the end of the book.
I’m curious to see how the writing might grow between books one and two as this is the author’s first published book. Giving grace where it’s due. I’d be interested to see how this story plays out and how our characters grow into their respective roles.
This was by no means a bad book, just kinda rough around the edges. Dialogue was a little choppy and the sentence structure could use some polishing in places. The story was good. The magic system was surprisingly fleshed out and there’s definite room for world building in the second installment.
My biggest issue was the romance. It felt too rushed and too slow all at once and I’m not sure how to feel about that. I feel like Taryn and Airess’ relationship had a really beautiful element to it going from reluctant allies to friends, and it kind of got muddied a bit at the end of the book.
I’m curious to see how the writing might grow between books one and two as this is the author’s first published book. Giving grace where it’s due. I’d be interested to see how this story plays out and how our characters grow into their respective roles.
Review of advance copy
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
WHAT! This book was an entire vibe! I absolutely was inLOVE with the Magick system and the world building! it was such a fast pace read, so fun to digest and kept me intrigued until the very end! I really didn't want it to end, so I can not wait for the rest of the series. She had such a beautiful way of writing this book and making the characters come to life for me! I am forever grateful to have been apart of the ARC team.
✨️ Slow Burn
✨️ Fae & Elves
✨️ Elemental Magick
✨️ Multi POV
✨️ Reluctant Allies to Lover
I had the BEST time reading Soulfyre.
WHAT! This book was an entire vibe! I absolutely was inLOVE with the Magick system and the world building! it was such a fast pace read, so fun to digest and kept me intrigued until the very end! I really didn't want it to end, so I can not wait for the rest of the series. She had such a beautiful way of writing this book and making the characters come to life for me! I am forever grateful to have been apart of the ARC team.
✨️ Slow Burn
✨️ Fae & Elves
✨️ Elemental Magick
✨️ Multi POV
✨️ Reluctant Allies to Lover
I had the BEST time reading Soulfyre.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I could never describe this book in one word, it wouldn’t even do it justice. This book is unlike anything I have ever read, and will ever read. It’s a story that combines so many elements, but never loses the heart, or the flow of the plot. Readers will be transported to a world full of elves, fae, humans, and magic that has no bounds. This is a book that draws you in with promise for an epic adventure, and boys does it deliver. The only complaint is that I am now in a book hangover.
Samantha has hyped up Taryn Seas, and rightfully so. This male stole my heart from the first sly grin he flashed at Airess. This male on several occasions defended Airess’s honor and I loved every minute of it. He will gladly ruin himself for Airess,and she sees the good in him. Airess herself is a fantastic FMC, her path into discovering her godly powers is an incredible experience. I loved how determined she was to learn more, despite uncovering lies, and trying to find someone who isn’t out for her powers. Her traumatic past never let her lose sight of a future she can make for herself, and I can’t wait for her to fully unleash the magick within.
The world building was amazing, I never got confused about the magick system, and world itself. It leaves itself open to where you can explorer even more in the books to come. While dream walking is not necessarily new, Samantha did a beautiful job of making it her own for the story. The elemental magick was breathtaking, and I’m fully prepared to meet more characters that show case all the wonderful abilities. The story moved at a great pace, it never felt rushed, and i never felt parts were left out. It genuinely was a story that inspires awe and imagination.
I do need to mention how much I loved the mystery villain POV. It added depth and darker elements to the story, giving the readers an all around immersion into the plot development. I didn’t see the twists at the end coming, but it made me love the story even more. I love and hate the cliffhanger, love in the sense that it was a phenomenal end, hate in the sense that I am impatient and I need the next book right away please. This is a must read for anyone who wants their minds blown by unique world, fated mates, prophecies, and action online anything you’ve ever read.
As an arc reviewer of this fine piece, I shall bestow it my rating of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you Samantha Nell, Soulfyre was an absolute pleasure to read, and I can’t wait to read more of your work.
Samantha has hyped up Taryn Seas, and rightfully so. This male stole my heart from the first sly grin he flashed at Airess. This male on several occasions defended Airess’s honor and I loved every minute of it. He will gladly ruin himself for Airess,and she sees the good in him. Airess herself is a fantastic FMC, her path into discovering her godly powers is an incredible experience. I loved how determined she was to learn more, despite uncovering lies, and trying to find someone who isn’t out for her powers. Her traumatic past never let her lose sight of a future she can make for herself, and I can’t wait for her to fully unleash the magick within.
The world building was amazing, I never got confused about the magick system, and world itself. It leaves itself open to where you can explorer even more in the books to come. While dream walking is not necessarily new, Samantha did a beautiful job of making it her own for the story. The elemental magick was breathtaking, and I’m fully prepared to meet more characters that show case all the wonderful abilities. The story moved at a great pace, it never felt rushed, and i never felt parts were left out. It genuinely was a story that inspires awe and imagination.
I do need to mention how much I loved the mystery villain POV. It added depth and darker elements to the story, giving the readers an all around immersion into the plot development. I didn’t see the twists at the end coming, but it made me love the story even more. I love and hate the cliffhanger, love in the sense that it was a phenomenal end, hate in the sense that I am impatient and I need the next book right away please. This is a must read for anyone who wants their minds blown by unique world, fated mates, prophecies, and action online anything you’ve ever read.
As an arc reviewer of this fine piece, I shall bestow it my rating of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you Samantha Nell, Soulfyre was an absolute pleasure to read, and I can’t wait to read more of your work.
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