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Shadow of the Forgotten Flame
He thought it was a call for revenge.
The world answered with something far more worse.
When his parents were slaughtered before his eyes and his birthright as Shah was stolen, something far more dangerous than war vanished as well—a book that should never have been opened.
Zeke knew someone had been there—someone who should not have been.
Twelve years later, the whispers of his ancestors finally found him.
He thought it was only about revenge. About reclaiming what had been taken.
He was wrong.
Something far greater has awakened—and to stop it, Zeke must join forces with those he never expected.
If he fails, it will not be Rashad alone that falls—but the boundary between the human world and the shadow realm will shatter.
Trigger warning!
This book contains themes and scenes that may be disturbing to some readers, including violence, death, psychological manipulation, child abuse, dehumanization, and morally complex relationships. Reader discretion is advised.
The world answered with something far more worse.
When his parents were slaughtered before his eyes and his birthright as Shah was stolen, something far more dangerous than war vanished as well—a book that should never have been opened.
Zeke knew someone had been there—someone who should not have been.
Twelve years later, the whispers of his ancestors finally found him.
He thought it was only about revenge. About reclaiming what had been taken.
He was wrong.
Something far greater has awakened—and to stop it, Zeke must join forces with those he never expected.
If he fails, it will not be Rashad alone that falls—but the boundary between the human world and the shadow realm will shatter.
Trigger warning!
This book contains themes and scenes that may be disturbing to some readers, including violence, death, psychological manipulation, child abuse, dehumanization, and morally complex relationships. Reader discretion is advised.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2026
About the author
S.N. Mouren
1 book2 followersS. N. Mouren, also known as Sadille Mouren, is a gothic enthusiast with a soft spot for quiet chaos and late-night thoughts.
When she's not writing, she spends her time reading, crafting, or working with clay as an amateur gothic-style artist, often drawn to dark, intricate designs. Somewhere beneath it all, she carries a soft heart that quietly contrasts the shadows she loves.
When she's not writing, she spends her time reading, crafting, or working with clay as an amateur gothic-style artist, often drawn to dark, intricate designs. Somewhere beneath it all, she carries a soft heart that quietly contrasts the shadows she loves.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 2, 2026
I’m not even going to lie the first 8 chapters had me STRUGGLING to push through. There’s a lot going on right out the gate, and I had a hard time keeping up with the world-building, the politics, and who was who. I definitely felt a little lost in the beginning.
BUT… once I got past that? It got so much better.
I’m not gonna lie this story was giving The Wheel of Time vibes in the way the story builds. Like that same “wait… what is going on?” feeling at first, and then things slowly start clicking into place the deeper you get into it.
The story really starts to come together, and I found myself getting pulled into the bigger picture with the ancient magic, the tension, the power struggles, and the characters. Just to let you know the romance isn’t heavy, but it’s there in that slow-burn, tension-filled way which is still perfect.
Zeke gives that strong, protective, slightly tortured energy (which I love), and the emotional undercurrent between characters adds just enough to keep me invested on the romance side too.
This isn’t a spice-forward read at all. So don’t go in expecting that but the tension and buildup is really good.
Overall, this is one of those books where you have to push through the beginning, but once it clicks, it clicks. And by the end, I was definitely curious to see where the series is going next.
BUT… once I got past that? It got so much better.
I’m not gonna lie this story was giving The Wheel of Time vibes in the way the story builds. Like that same “wait… what is going on?” feeling at first, and then things slowly start clicking into place the deeper you get into it.
The story really starts to come together, and I found myself getting pulled into the bigger picture with the ancient magic, the tension, the power struggles, and the characters. Just to let you know the romance isn’t heavy, but it’s there in that slow-burn, tension-filled way which is still perfect.
Zeke gives that strong, protective, slightly tortured energy (which I love), and the emotional undercurrent between characters adds just enough to keep me invested on the romance side too.
This isn’t a spice-forward read at all. So don’t go in expecting that but the tension and buildup is really good.
Overall, this is one of those books where you have to push through the beginning, but once it clicks, it clicks. And by the end, I was definitely curious to see where the series is going next.
May 11, 2026
A nearly perfect read!
This book contains versatile characters, evolvement, a rich story with world building where you can practically feel the cold or smell the manure of some of the scenes put forth by the author. I had to take my time getting through the book, as the story is intricate and has a lot of characters, but everything is so well put together.
The fact that this is the first book this author has published (as far as I know) is unbelievable, really.
It ends on what I feel are multiple cliffhangers, as there are several threads to this story, and I can't wait for the next book to come out! The chapters could have been given a character title rather than a number (or in addition) to make it easier to know who we are following, but we get to know who it is within a reasonable amount of time in each chapter.
The writing style is a bit on the "formal" side (not sure if that would be the proper term, but it's the closest I have come to describing it so far). It reminds me a bit of the way Alex Aster, Camilla Andrew and even John Gwynne and George R. R. Martin writes, if those could be put in the same category.
I only have one remark, and that is that there are some editorial issues where, for example, it seems like the author has made some alterations to the phrasing of sentences or paragraphs, and not managed to edit the entirety so that it makes sense. There are similar silly mistakes where words are missing letters, such as one instance where "pai" was on the page, but it was obviously meant to say "pain". As a Norwegian, my brain suddenly read "pie" and was confused for a second before I reread that sentence knowing that it definitely didn't suddenly describe food.
A couple of places I also found it difficult to know who "he" was when two males were having a conversation, but that is always something which can get mixed up when not using names/titles for all of the lines of dialogue.
Still, I absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it enough!
This book contains versatile characters, evolvement, a rich story with world building where you can practically feel the cold or smell the manure of some of the scenes put forth by the author. I had to take my time getting through the book, as the story is intricate and has a lot of characters, but everything is so well put together.
The fact that this is the first book this author has published (as far as I know) is unbelievable, really.
It ends on what I feel are multiple cliffhangers, as there are several threads to this story, and I can't wait for the next book to come out! The chapters could have been given a character title rather than a number (or in addition) to make it easier to know who we are following, but we get to know who it is within a reasonable amount of time in each chapter.
The writing style is a bit on the "formal" side (not sure if that would be the proper term, but it's the closest I have come to describing it so far). It reminds me a bit of the way Alex Aster, Camilla Andrew and even John Gwynne and George R. R. Martin writes, if those could be put in the same category.
I only have one remark, and that is that there are some editorial issues where, for example, it seems like the author has made some alterations to the phrasing of sentences or paragraphs, and not managed to edit the entirety so that it makes sense. There are similar silly mistakes where words are missing letters, such as one instance where "pai" was on the page, but it was obviously meant to say "pain". As a Norwegian, my brain suddenly read "pie" and was confused for a second before I reread that sentence knowing that it definitely didn't suddenly describe food.
A couple of places I also found it difficult to know who "he" was when two males were having a conversation, but that is always something which can get mixed up when not using names/titles for all of the lines of dialogue.
Still, I absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it enough!
May 18, 2026
I want to thank S.N. Mouren for sending me a copy of this book. Shadow of the Forgotten Flame is the first installment in her series, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the story goes next.
Fantasy is not my usual genre, but this completely pulled me in. Mouren created a cast of dynamic and engaging characters that I became deeply invested in watching navigate this world and the challenges thrown at them. There were several moments where certain characters absolutely broke my heart as they faced setback after setback, and the villain was written in a way that felt genuinely chilling.
One of the things I appreciated most was the pacing. The story moved steadily without ever feeling rushed, but I also never felt stuck waiting for things to happen. As someone who prefers stories that continue progressing rather than lingering too long in one place, I really appreciated the shorter chapters and consistent momentum throughout the book.
I also thought the multiple POV structure was handled very well. Each perspective felt distinct enough that I was never confused about whose voice I was following, which can sometimes happen in fantasy with larger casts.
If I had one critique, it would be that I would have liked a little more development in some of the character dynamics and relationships. There were moments where certain decisions or emotional reactions may have landed even stronger with a bit more buildup beforehand. I also occasionally found myself wanting more explanation surrounding parts of the magic system or the reasoning behind certain elements of the world. That may partially come from me being a more occasional fantasy reader, but there were a few moments where I wanted a little more grounding or clarity.
Overall though, I had a great time reading this and found it incredibly hard to put down. The characters, pacing, and emotional moments kept me fully invested from beginning to end, and I’m very interested to see where the series goes from here.
Pagesinthewild.books
Fantasy is not my usual genre, but this completely pulled me in. Mouren created a cast of dynamic and engaging characters that I became deeply invested in watching navigate this world and the challenges thrown at them. There were several moments where certain characters absolutely broke my heart as they faced setback after setback, and the villain was written in a way that felt genuinely chilling.
One of the things I appreciated most was the pacing. The story moved steadily without ever feeling rushed, but I also never felt stuck waiting for things to happen. As someone who prefers stories that continue progressing rather than lingering too long in one place, I really appreciated the shorter chapters and consistent momentum throughout the book.
I also thought the multiple POV structure was handled very well. Each perspective felt distinct enough that I was never confused about whose voice I was following, which can sometimes happen in fantasy with larger casts.
If I had one critique, it would be that I would have liked a little more development in some of the character dynamics and relationships. There were moments where certain decisions or emotional reactions may have landed even stronger with a bit more buildup beforehand. I also occasionally found myself wanting more explanation surrounding parts of the magic system or the reasoning behind certain elements of the world. That may partially come from me being a more occasional fantasy reader, but there were a few moments where I wanted a little more grounding or clarity.
Overall though, I had a great time reading this and found it incredibly hard to put down. The characters, pacing, and emotional moments kept me fully invested from beginning to end, and I’m very interested to see where the series goes from here.
Pagesinthewild.books
April 25, 2026
*no spoilers
First of all WOW. From the prologue i was hooked and it created such a “omg what happened, omg what happens next” effect.
The character building and relationship building is next level. While reading this i truly felt immersed into their world and did not want to come back to reality. I felt very involved in what they were feeling as well as feeling my own as if i was with them.
I really enjoyed that the world had magical and karmic/fate elements and you really get (again) drawn in.
The story line is steady and maintains attention throughout.
The world building and descriptiveness is also wonderful and really helps you to feel present. I believe this is the reason i felt so “in the world”.
Even the characters themselves will pull you through love/hate emotions depending on the chapter. The ending has a great “set up” for book 2 that provides excitement and eagerness to jump right in.
I tend to be pretty stingy with my 5 star reviews but this absolutely deserved it. I really enjoyed this book, the characters, the immersive world, and cannot WAIT for book 2.
First of all WOW. From the prologue i was hooked and it created such a “omg what happened, omg what happens next” effect.
The character building and relationship building is next level. While reading this i truly felt immersed into their world and did not want to come back to reality. I felt very involved in what they were feeling as well as feeling my own as if i was with them.
I really enjoyed that the world had magical and karmic/fate elements and you really get (again) drawn in.
The story line is steady and maintains attention throughout.
The world building and descriptiveness is also wonderful and really helps you to feel present. I believe this is the reason i felt so “in the world”.
Even the characters themselves will pull you through love/hate emotions depending on the chapter. The ending has a great “set up” for book 2 that provides excitement and eagerness to jump right in.
I tend to be pretty stingy with my 5 star reviews but this absolutely deserved it. I really enjoyed this book, the characters, the immersive world, and cannot WAIT for book 2.
May 11, 2026
The author reached out to me; it is her first novel.
I knew it was a multi POV, that it was fantasy, but apart from that, nothing much. I went into the book pretty blind.
I was pleasantly surprised. While the multi-POV can be a bit strange at first (like, 6 people? you wonder who is who), you get used to it after a while.
The story mostly revolves around Zeke, and through each POV, you start to see pieces of the big picture, that it’s much bigger than just a matter of revenge.
It feels like some strategy board game, where you see each piece moving, each story unfolding, each line being traced, and slowly, little by little, they all seem to converge towards one focal point.
You follow each character, wondering when they are going to meet the others, where they are in the world, and what will happen to them.
I would have liked a map (the world is huge) and maybe a list of characters and their relationships charts? Apart from that, it’s the first book in a trilogy, and I want book 2 already!
I knew it was a multi POV, that it was fantasy, but apart from that, nothing much. I went into the book pretty blind.
I was pleasantly surprised. While the multi-POV can be a bit strange at first (like, 6 people? you wonder who is who), you get used to it after a while.
The story mostly revolves around Zeke, and through each POV, you start to see pieces of the big picture, that it’s much bigger than just a matter of revenge.
It feels like some strategy board game, where you see each piece moving, each story unfolding, each line being traced, and slowly, little by little, they all seem to converge towards one focal point.
You follow each character, wondering when they are going to meet the others, where they are in the world, and what will happen to them.
I would have liked a map (the world is huge) and maybe a list of characters and their relationships charts? Apart from that, it’s the first book in a trilogy, and I want book 2 already!
May 14, 2026
The author reached out to me and asked me to read this book in exchange for review. Thank you for this opportunity!
———- ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first half of the book was difficult to get into. The chapters felt too long in my opinion (most of them being around 20 pages and some being 40), and the storyline felt to be dragging on which made me feel disinterested. This meant that at times I’d feel confused with plot lines and what was going on but once I was able to figure out everything it was a nice read!
I found the ideas and themes mentioned to be quite interesting and complex which I enjoyed. The writing style was quite formal which I understand is due to the genre and type of book, however this formal writing was what made it hard to me to get into the world and story in the beginning.
Overall, this was a great book and left me curious for more! Congratulations to the author, this was a great read :)
———- ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first half of the book was difficult to get into. The chapters felt too long in my opinion (most of them being around 20 pages and some being 40), and the storyline felt to be dragging on which made me feel disinterested. This meant that at times I’d feel confused with plot lines and what was going on but once I was able to figure out everything it was a nice read!
I found the ideas and themes mentioned to be quite interesting and complex which I enjoyed. The writing style was quite formal which I understand is due to the genre and type of book, however this formal writing was what made it hard to me to get into the world and story in the beginning.
Overall, this was a great book and left me curious for more! Congratulations to the author, this was a great read :)
April 25, 2026
The world building is incredible. The characters are loveable and definitely hateable. You'll know who I mean when you read it.
You journey through this book with the characters. Like you're a part of the journey itself. You root for each character and mourn with them all the same.
My breath has stilled in moments and a love for the friendships grew strong alongside the characters throughout the telling of their story.
The magic system is very different to what I've seen recycled many times before.
I cannot wait to read more of the characters stories and how they may possibly develop.
I also cannot wait for book 2. I look forward to reading it.
You journey through this book with the characters. Like you're a part of the journey itself. You root for each character and mourn with them all the same.
My breath has stilled in moments and a love for the friendships grew strong alongside the characters throughout the telling of their story.
The magic system is very different to what I've seen recycled many times before.
I cannot wait to read more of the characters stories and how they may possibly develop.
I also cannot wait for book 2. I look forward to reading it.
May 3, 2026
Ok… omg! Wow!! A real page turner. This book keeps you hooked the whole way through and it keeps its secrets for just the right moment before they reveal themselves. Amazing storytelling and cannot wait for the next instalment in this series. I fell for a few characters and already have my favourites who I’m cheering for. But really… chefs kiss and definitely recommend
May 7, 2026
I finished reading this book today, the story is Very good. If you're heavily into annotations and note taking, this book is great for that. With immersive characters, compelling subplots to the overarching one. There are a lot of characters and stories to follow. Roan IS my favorite.
April 20, 2026
page turner
I can’t wait for book two! The story itself is intriguing, the characters are varied. The world building is impressive.
I can’t wait for book two! The story itself is intriguing, the characters are varied. The world building is impressive.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews