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Flame and Blade #4
The Elementalist
The second Demon War has begun, and no one is safe.
Vethe and Lyria stand outside the gates of Ocrus Sheau, a mysterious kingdom where all wildmages are forced into slavery, hoping to unearth information that could help Prince Kyalam in his struggle against the Citadel without ending up in chains. Entering the kingdom depends on an invitation from the dangerous God-King, but escaping will prove even more treacherous.
On the banks of the Davelroth River, Gaul and Anette have just survived a demon attack, but not before the traitor who’d planned to betray them revealed the location of a secret wildmage encampment to a sinister Citadel master. Now Gaul and Anette must put aside their quarrels, and their growing attraction, in order to reach the encampment before the Citadel. But the encampment will hold dangers of its own, especially once Anette reveals her heritage.
Long-lost secrets will come to light, ancient prophecies will demand fulfillment, and the final battle for the future of humanity will begin when the Elementalist returns!
The Elementalist is the final book in an epic romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur, Grace Draven, and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of forbidden magic, dangerous adventure, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
Vethe and Lyria stand outside the gates of Ocrus Sheau, a mysterious kingdom where all wildmages are forced into slavery, hoping to unearth information that could help Prince Kyalam in his struggle against the Citadel without ending up in chains. Entering the kingdom depends on an invitation from the dangerous God-King, but escaping will prove even more treacherous.
On the banks of the Davelroth River, Gaul and Anette have just survived a demon attack, but not before the traitor who’d planned to betray them revealed the location of a secret wildmage encampment to a sinister Citadel master. Now Gaul and Anette must put aside their quarrels, and their growing attraction, in order to reach the encampment before the Citadel. But the encampment will hold dangers of its own, especially once Anette reveals her heritage.
Long-lost secrets will come to light, ancient prophecies will demand fulfillment, and the final battle for the future of humanity will begin when the Elementalist returns!
The Elementalist is the final book in an epic romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur, Grace Draven, and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of forbidden magic, dangerous adventure, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
516 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2021
56 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Hart
24 books97 followersRaised by wolves in the mountains of Colorado, Meredith Hart traveled the world to seek her fortune, fell in love with a half-elf ranger, and now lives in a cabin deep in the Maine woods where she writes steamy fantasy romance with snarky, reluctant heroes and the warrior women who love them.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
She also writes mythology-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod, and she has occasionally been known to pen a poem or two. Sometimes they even make it into her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 2, 2021
3,5 'Demons' stars
This is the last book in The Flame and Blade series and I have kind of mixed feelings about it. I've been with this series from the start and I really enjoyed the beginning of Vethe and Lyria's journey. How could I not? This story has mages, demons, badass women, an epic fantasy setting, and whirlwind romance(s).
What I liked the most was Vethe and Lyria's story arc. They both came so far from book 1 when they first met and I'm so proud of them. They truly deserve to be this power couple they became! Also, Vethe being an elementalist (not a spoiler, it's in the title, lol) is just so badass and I LOVE his new powers.
What felt flat was Gaul and Anette's story arc. I was really excited for them to finally get together but their whole relationship was based on miscommunication and angst and honestly, I wasn't feeling them together. And don't get me started on that scene which could be Anette's best moment but was ruined because she was reduced to need-no-men-strong-and-independent-woman-wannabe. And Gaul was - instead of heroic - just simply stupid. Also, with the addition of their chapters, we then got 4 first-person POVs which was just too much because all characters started to blend together.
I wish that the whole Ocre Shau part of the story would have been extended and had more impact on the storyline as a whole. Vethe and Lyria both shined there, and I really liked some of the characters that were linked to that story arc - Kaylam, Breim, Ingimarr - but they kind of lost importance at the end for some reason.
Another thing that I adore in this series is the magic system and the whole worldbuilding is really great. The secret about demons was unexpected and I very much approve of that plot twist. I'm really curious about the demon realm now! Just a pity that it was revealed so late. The last book is so long but the ending was actually very abrupt, which got me thinking why some of these events haven't happened in books 2 & 3 that both kind of felt like filler books. The entire series' experience would be so much better if the whole potential of the story could be better realized. I certainly expected a more memorable ending. I was hyped for some epic ending battle that just... didn't happen(!?!) I liked the message about not solving things with violence but you kind of expect dramatic fighting at the end of an epic fantasy book. Or is that just me?
I'm looking forward to more stories by this author. I really enjoy her imagination and writing style (still hoping she will once try 3rd person POV because I think that her way with words is perfect for it). And now onto the new series with DRAGONS!!
The ARC of this book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Meredith!
This is the last book in The Flame and Blade series and I have kind of mixed feelings about it. I've been with this series from the start and I really enjoyed the beginning of Vethe and Lyria's journey. How could I not? This story has mages, demons, badass women, an epic fantasy setting, and whirlwind romance(s).
What I liked the most was Vethe and Lyria's story arc. They both came so far from book 1 when they first met and I'm so proud of them. They truly deserve to be this power couple they became! Also, Vethe being an elementalist (not a spoiler, it's in the title, lol) is just so badass and I LOVE his new powers.
What felt flat was Gaul and Anette's story arc. I was really excited for them to finally get together but their whole relationship was based on miscommunication and angst and honestly, I wasn't feeling them together. And don't get me started on that scene which could be Anette's best moment but was ruined because she was reduced to need-no-men-strong-and-independent-woman-wannabe. And Gaul was - instead of heroic - just simply stupid. Also, with the addition of their chapters, we then got 4 first-person POVs which was just too much because all characters started to blend together.
I wish that the whole Ocre Shau part of the story would have been extended and had more impact on the storyline as a whole. Vethe and Lyria both shined there, and I really liked some of the characters that were linked to that story arc - Kaylam, Breim, Ingimarr - but they kind of lost importance at the end for some reason.
Another thing that I adore in this series is the magic system and the whole worldbuilding is really great. The secret about demons was unexpected and I very much approve of that plot twist. I'm really curious about the demon realm now! Just a pity that it was revealed so late. The last book is so long but the ending was actually very abrupt, which got me thinking why some of these events haven't happened in books 2 & 3 that both kind of felt like filler books. The entire series' experience would be so much better if the whole potential of the story could be better realized. I certainly expected a more memorable ending. I was hyped for some epic ending battle that just... didn't happen(!?!) I liked the message about not solving things with violence but you kind of expect dramatic fighting at the end of an epic fantasy book. Or is that just me?
I'm looking forward to more stories by this author. I really enjoy her imagination and writing style (still hoping she will once try 3rd person POV because I think that her way with words is perfect for it). And now onto the new series with DRAGONS!!
The ARC of this book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Meredith!
September 7, 2021
A wonderful and amazing end to an epic story. I was lucky enough to get an ARC and spent three days slowly making my way through the story because I just wanted to savor every last delicious drop. These characters have found a way into my heart and I just didn't want their story to be over.
I'm honestly going to miss sharing my world with Vethe, Lyria, Anette, and Gaul. Their story may be over but it was an freaking amazing one that led the reader on a merry chase over a most intriguing world that will keep me reading the series over and over again.
Thank you so much for introducing us to this motley group of wild mages, guild guards, and a few horses too. I honestly never knew I was missing them until I found them one stormy night not so very long ago.
I'm honestly going to miss sharing my world with Vethe, Lyria, Anette, and Gaul. Their story may be over but it was an freaking amazing one that led the reader on a merry chase over a most intriguing world that will keep me reading the series over and over again.
Thank you so much for introducing us to this motley group of wild mages, guild guards, and a few horses too. I honestly never knew I was missing them until I found them one stormy night not so very long ago.
June 30, 2022
This book was a clean HEA conclusion, but I honestly thought the story dragged on unnecessarily. The trip to Ocre Shau to find the true history of Vethe's ancestry ended up rather superfluous considering how the ending wrapped up. I suppose it would have been more useful if there was a planned spin-off series that dealt with the people they had met on the way to the final demon battle, but honestly, just skipping to the final would have tied everything up neatly without the side trip and extra characters.
Anette and Gaul's relationship super annoyed me and caused me to take a break from a book a few times. Their repetitive stubbornness and lack of communication got really tiring.
I would have liked to have learned more about the demons and their society, but they only got .
Overall, the series was an enjoyable quest read, but I wasn't super satisfied with how it ended. I read the first three books in a single day, but it took me a few weeks to get around to finishing this book, and only because I pushed myself.
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Ratings - completed series:
#1 The Flame and the Blade: ★★★★☆
#2 In the Shadows of the Citadel: ★★★★☆
#3 Dark Waters: ★★★★☆
#4 The Elementalist (this book): ★★★☆☆
Anette and Gaul's relationship super annoyed me and caused me to take a break from a book a few times. Their repetitive stubbornness and lack of communication got really tiring.
I would have liked to have learned more about the demons and their society, but they only got .
Overall, the series was an enjoyable quest read, but I wasn't super satisfied with how it ended. I read the first three books in a single day, but it took me a few weeks to get around to finishing this book, and only because I pushed myself.
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Ratings - completed series:
#1 The Flame and the Blade: ★★★★☆
#2 In the Shadows of the Citadel: ★★★★☆
#3 Dark Waters: ★★★★☆
#4 The Elementalist (this book): ★★★☆☆
September 25, 2021
This is definitely the best book yet, and sadly the last. I’ve read this series from the beginning and I absolutely love it. The Elementalist earned his title through much pain and suffering and causes his share of destruction. The ending was not at all as I expected. It was absolutely, hauntingly beautiful. A wonderful read
September 21, 2021
This is the fourth and final book in Meredith Hart’s Flame and Blade series of romantic fantasy adventure with swords and sorcery and demons. Although this is not one of my preferred genres, I love this series—it’s such a thrill ride! This book is told from the alternating perspectives of Lyria Guardia, a fighter from the Guard’s Guild; Lord Vethe Scarvian, a wildmage; Vethe’s sister and fellow wildmage, Lady Anette Scarvian; and Lyria’s brother and fellow Guard’s Guild member, Gaul Guardia. I sometimes find alternating perspectives frustrating, but it works really well here. This book picks up immediately after the third book left off, so it’s best to read the entire series in order.
This is a tense read with lots of excitement, suspense, surprises, and some steamy scenes. It was also quite funny at times; I couldn’t resist reading a few scenes aloud to my partner, who commented that it reminded her of Terry Pratchett. I had so much fun with this book and the entire series.
I like all of our main characters, who are all talented, resourceful, strong, and resilient. I do wish the characters didn’t take so long to learn to be open with each other. I’m always annoyed by conflicts that could easily be resolved with better communication. These characters face so many tough external challenges, it’s a pity they also have to torture themselves and each other with their insecurities and unfounded assumptions. They do eventually learn, and while I don’t want to give away any details about the ending, it was very satisfying.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys reading epic romantic fantasy. Be aware that there are explicit scenes of sex and violence. Bonus points for LGBTQ representation.
This is a tense read with lots of excitement, suspense, surprises, and some steamy scenes. It was also quite funny at times; I couldn’t resist reading a few scenes aloud to my partner, who commented that it reminded her of Terry Pratchett. I had so much fun with this book and the entire series.
I like all of our main characters, who are all talented, resourceful, strong, and resilient. I do wish the characters didn’t take so long to learn to be open with each other. I’m always annoyed by conflicts that could easily be resolved with better communication. These characters face so many tough external challenges, it’s a pity they also have to torture themselves and each other with their insecurities and unfounded assumptions. They do eventually learn, and while I don’t want to give away any details about the ending, it was very satisfying.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys reading epic romantic fantasy. Be aware that there are explicit scenes of sex and violence. Bonus points for LGBTQ representation.
August 28, 2021
Oh. My. God. I loved it. I loved it! Everything I’d hoped for, and better! Seriously made my heart sigh. I cried. I laughed. All the feels. I’m so glad it ended how it did, and yet I’m also so sad it’s over!
August 29, 2021
This series is absolute one of my top favorites and I
read constantly. This book was the final one and it didn’t disappoint. It was amazing, well written and had an ending that left me happy and satisfied with the outcome. Totally recommend it.
read constantly. This book was the final one and it didn’t disappoint. It was amazing, well written and had an ending that left me happy and satisfied with the outcome. Totally recommend it.
September 3, 2021
This eagerly anticipated end to the Flame & Blade series did not disappoint in any way! It was compelling, exciting, hilarious, and nerve-wracking all at once filled with adventure, connection, and joy. Now to go back and reread the whole series start to finish!
September 16, 2021
This book and this series was so good. I love that we got Vethe and Lyria's story and POV, along with Gaul and Anette.
Speaking of, can someone PLEASE draw Gaul with all of the festival flowers in his hair? He is an adorable strategically-minded himbo and I love him.
Speaking of, can someone PLEASE draw Gaul with all of the festival flowers in his hair? He is an adorable strategically-minded himbo and I love him.
October 25, 2021
The final book in this series and it does wrap up all the loose ends nicely with a grand showdown between the rebel mages and the Citadel. Though I think I was a bit let down when it mainly just amounted to taking out one single master of the Citadel. I loved the danger of entering Ocrus Sheu, which reminded me more than a little of Slavers’ Bay in Game of Thrones (where white-haired Daenerys gained the title of “Breaker of Chains”), though I didn’t really see why they went there other than Kyalam wanting to go there and they felt they owed him. Which led to one of the more boring sections of the book, just hunting for days through the books in the library, with Lyria hunting through the shipping manifests for no reason that I saw (except to uncover certain information for us the readers). As usual though, I do love seeing Lyria and Vethe together, and this section had the added benefit of them not denying their feelings for each other. Though Vethe did become rather over-powered, which made problems ultimately easy to just power their way through situations. The book alternated chapters between focusing on Lyria and Vethe, to focusing on Gaul and Anette with the journeys of both of the duos feeling very separate and not really connected. And I loved the sections of Gaul and Anette. Anette is a relatable character who didn’t feel like a highborn lady at all with being raised in near poverty. I loved whenever she got frustrated with Gaul who was still on the idea of denying himself for whatever reason, because she was a lady, because he thought he’d eventually have to kill her brother for being a wild mage, etc. I loved that she was perfectly willing to suffer in silence so long as it meant not talking to him when she was mad at him. But Anette was problematic in that she could wield several elements and seemed powerful in certain scenes, but for the most part (especially in the second half of the book once she returned to Mayhaven), she didn’t wield her magic at all except to light a flame, like when they were near the citadel, but she really didn’t defend herself or Gaul at all. I kept wondering why she didn’t do this or that or she could so easily have flipped the tables on the citadel master. There were some interesting revelations about the demons, though it made the end confrontation with them on the tedious side, though it at least tied things up. The story of Vethe and Lyria and the story of Anette and Gaul were mostly separate until the very end. And because it felt mostly like I was flipping between two separate books, it made the overall book feel twice as long with the pacing feeling like it dragged in quite a few places. Overall, I’m glad to see this series come to a conclusion and not hang out there forever not concluded. I’m glad to see a happy ending for everyone.
August 26, 2022
2.5 stars. Great ending, but it was a slog getting there. Sooooooo much filler, repetition, and cheese. I let my eyes scan over so many paragraphs, it's crazy. I did that a lot in the third book too, but this one took that nonsense to a whole other level.
Also, I was not feeling the new thing between Gaul and Annette. I didn't like it from the start and I saw that shit coming a mile away. It was way too fast, random, and not at all believable.
Super annoying because the climax and resolution was really interesting. Love the demon realm stuff. If only Hart cut out like... half the book. Then ended it with Gaul and Annette realizing it was all a lusty dream, and that Annette would be better off leading her own expeditions and just being friends with that meathead.
Also, I was not feeling the new thing between Gaul and Annette. I didn't like it from the start and I saw that shit coming a mile away. It was way too fast, random, and not at all believable.
Super annoying because the climax and resolution was really interesting. Love the demon realm stuff. If only Hart cut out like... half the book. Then ended it with Gaul and Annette realizing it was all a lusty dream, and that Annette would be better off leading her own expeditions and just being friends with that meathead.
November 15, 2021
What an end to what is now one of my top favorite fantasy romance series! I cannot even say how much I absolutely loved watching Vethe and Lyria fight their way towards their happy ending! I just about cried when they finally admitted everything to each about how they felt! And Gaul and Annette’s relationship grew on me too! When they finally got together boy was it explosive and hot! I loved how she turned the ultimate playboy into mush! I read this whole 4 book series in 10 days! I would have done it sooner if I wouldn’t have had to work!! If I could give 10 gold stars for this series, I would!! I will be reading any further works by Meredith Hart without a second thought!
March 2, 2023
4.5.
Whay a great series this was and it all wrapped up nicely.
For me, this series is light romantic fantasy done right.
Vethe continues to be an amazon g character and he and Lyria finally sort their issues out.
On the other sixe of the duel narrative we have Gaul and Annette and enjoyed their interaction, too.
The plot and action moved at a decent pace and the storyline kept you entertained.
My only issue was the miscommunication trope, which we had at various points in both couple's storyline, so that was a little tedious. But didn't bother me that much.
Highly recommend!
Whay a great series this was and it all wrapped up nicely.
For me, this series is light romantic fantasy done right.
Vethe continues to be an amazon g character and he and Lyria finally sort their issues out.
On the other sixe of the duel narrative we have Gaul and Annette and enjoyed their interaction, too.
The plot and action moved at a decent pace and the storyline kept you entertained.
My only issue was the miscommunication trope, which we had at various points in both couple's storyline, so that was a little tedious. But didn't bother me that much.
Highly recommend!
September 29, 2021
Epic ending!
I so loved the first book in this series! I really liked the main characters, interesting magic system, plus steam! But to be honest, I never imagined that’s where it was all heading to. So this last book was a nice surprise and a great, fitting end to Lyria & Vethe’s journeys. The author’s next series looks promising too—dragon shifters!!
I so loved the first book in this series! I really liked the main characters, interesting magic system, plus steam! But to be honest, I never imagined that’s where it was all heading to. So this last book was a nice surprise and a great, fitting end to Lyria & Vethe’s journeys. The author’s next series looks promising too—dragon shifters!!
September 21, 2021
Fantastic finale
I'm so glad I found these books and this author! What a journey ... The Elementalist did not disappoint! This was one of those that made me sad the journey was over.
I'm so glad I found these books and this author! What a journey ... The Elementalist did not disappoint! This was one of those that made me sad the journey was over.
February 22, 2022
Pretty good finish to this fantasy with romance story. Interesting revelation about the demons.
September 27, 2021
Oh my goodness that was the best yet!!
My heart was pounding so many different times. I didn’t ever want to stop reading.
Thank you thank you thank you for giving these characters life.
There was so much action, intrigue, steam and drama I couldn’t read fast enough but didn’t want to because I didn’t want to miss anything!
I’m so excited for the conclusion of the series but also extremely sad. This world was fantastic! The magic, the guilds with their incredible camaraderie, the characters who draw you in, and surprisingly the demons too.
I really really hope that we get spin-off series from here.
This is a m/f epic fantasy romance. You get the story of not one but two separate couples throughout the book. Lots of magic and plenty of heat. If you love swords with your romance this one is definitely for you.
My heart was pounding so many different times. I didn’t ever want to stop reading.
Thank you thank you thank you for giving these characters life.
There was so much action, intrigue, steam and drama I couldn’t read fast enough but didn’t want to because I didn’t want to miss anything!
I’m so excited for the conclusion of the series but also extremely sad. This world was fantastic! The magic, the guilds with their incredible camaraderie, the characters who draw you in, and surprisingly the demons too.
I really really hope that we get spin-off series from here.
This is a m/f epic fantasy romance. You get the story of not one but two separate couples throughout the book. Lots of magic and plenty of heat. If you love swords with your romance this one is definitely for you.
September 3, 2021
I was given a free copy of this book and I decided to give it an honest review.
This is the last novel of a four volume story. I will truly miss these characters. I enjoyed Vethe's self deprecating sense of humor. The fact that Vethe does not believe that he is infallible made Vethe interesting. He has been in a no win situation most of his life and has done his best, but most of that has been wrong and he knows it. I like Anette sass, while she has been trained all her life to be a noble, it didn't seem to take. She observes, thinks for herself, formulates strategy, then proceeds without asking anyone for permission. This last volume had a very satisfying ending, which tied up everything and made sense. If I had any complaints. It would be the continual shift in character perspective, but I realize it was necessary in order to tell certain parts of the story. All in all, I thoroughly enjoy the entire epic and am very sorry to see it end.
This is the last novel of a four volume story. I will truly miss these characters. I enjoyed Vethe's self deprecating sense of humor. The fact that Vethe does not believe that he is infallible made Vethe interesting. He has been in a no win situation most of his life and has done his best, but most of that has been wrong and he knows it. I like Anette sass, while she has been trained all her life to be a noble, it didn't seem to take. She observes, thinks for herself, formulates strategy, then proceeds without asking anyone for permission. This last volume had a very satisfying ending, which tied up everything and made sense. If I had any complaints. It would be the continual shift in character perspective, but I realize it was necessary in order to tell certain parts of the story. All in all, I thoroughly enjoy the entire epic and am very sorry to see it end.
August 30, 2021
Amazing Magical Adventure!
This final book in the series definitely works well to pull the previous three tightly together and it gives us another amazing adventure for Vethe and Lyra and Gaul and Anette.
These characters, by the way, are strong and well thought out.
We also have two lovely romances built in, with a bit of heat.
I just love it when I can clearly visualize the action in my mind and this definitely happened while reading this story - for me.
The surprise ending was something I most definitely did not expect. Wow! Amazing!
I loved the elemental magic - it was just so very different from the normal magic stories too.
This is a book and series which I am happy to recommend, so enjoy.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the ebook and is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
This final book in the series definitely works well to pull the previous three tightly together and it gives us another amazing adventure for Vethe and Lyra and Gaul and Anette.
These characters, by the way, are strong and well thought out.
We also have two lovely romances built in, with a bit of heat.
I just love it when I can clearly visualize the action in my mind and this definitely happened while reading this story - for me.
The surprise ending was something I most definitely did not expect. Wow! Amazing!
I loved the elemental magic - it was just so very different from the normal magic stories too.
This is a book and series which I am happy to recommend, so enjoy.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the ebook and is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
September 5, 2021
I've read this series for Vethe and Lyria. Vethe had an old fashioned, lay my cloak at her feet (or set your enemy on fire) kind of love for Lyria. He's the accidental hero that looks delicate but has the heart of a lion. In this book we hear him roar, not only for Lyria but for the people he comes to lead. And of course it's his sacrifice that saves the day. As I'm a more action-packed-thirsty reader, I could have done with more explosions and almost death, but Meredith Hart has tied all the loose ends up and has created a series with a lot of heart with this last novel. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC as a keen follower of the series, don't forget to follow Meredith aka Sam on Twitter: @WriterSamMac (it was good to get teasers of the book while it was being written on Twitter). Read it & enjoy.
July 10, 2025
I loved the characters and the story. I devoured the entire four book series in one weekend.
February 23, 2022
A satisfying conclusion to this fun, exciting & sexy series!
- I loved Lyria and Vethe and was glad to see less miscommunication between them (Book 2 especially was getting on my nerves in that respect. Sometimes all I wanted was to sit them down and force them to have an actual conversation). Their relationship evolved nicely. Even though they are both plagued by doubts and insecurities, they have each other's backs at all times;
- I didn’t expect the way the demon plotline was resolved. It added a lot of depth to the story.
- There’s a lot of stuff in this book: an evil slaver empire, fun & risky adventures, demons being , Vethe’s powers (it’s in the title, y’all), the Citadel being its villainous self, etc. Both storylines (Lyria & Vethe and Gaul & Annette) kept me interested until the very end, although I didn’t connect to A&G the same way I did with L&V. I wish the main cast had some more together time, though. There’s potential for great interaction between them all;
- Cool worldbuilding – not super intricate, but complex enough to give the readers an impression of a living and breathing world surrounding the characters.
- As in all previous books in the series, I loved the humor. It helped break the tension and make the protagonists more human: at times silly, confused, self-deprecating or simply too horny to have a properly functioning brain. To me humor is an indispensable element of a romance-heavy story – without it all this pining would be insufferable.
If you’re looking for a character-driven fantasy series with tons of great romance (and steam!) between people who are far from perfect, this one might be for you. Especially if, like me, you have an allergic reaction to the popular mainstream fantasy romance books featuring square-jawed (or pointy-eared, take your pick) jerks and heroines who kick ass and crack jokes without breaking a sweat.
- I loved Lyria and Vethe and was glad to see less miscommunication between them (Book 2 especially was getting on my nerves in that respect. Sometimes all I wanted was to sit them down and force them to have an actual conversation). Their relationship evolved nicely. Even though they are both plagued by doubts and insecurities, they have each other's backs at all times;
- I didn’t expect the way the demon plotline was resolved. It added a lot of depth to the story.
- There’s a lot of stuff in this book: an evil slaver empire, fun & risky adventures, demons being , Vethe’s powers (it’s in the title, y’all), the Citadel being its villainous self, etc. Both storylines (Lyria & Vethe and Gaul & Annette) kept me interested until the very end, although I didn’t connect to A&G the same way I did with L&V. I wish the main cast had some more together time, though. There’s potential for great interaction between them all;
- Cool worldbuilding – not super intricate, but complex enough to give the readers an impression of a living and breathing world surrounding the characters.
- As in all previous books in the series, I loved the humor. It helped break the tension and make the protagonists more human: at times silly, confused, self-deprecating or simply too horny to have a properly functioning brain. To me humor is an indispensable element of a romance-heavy story – without it all this pining would be insufferable.
If you’re looking for a character-driven fantasy series with tons of great romance (and steam!) between people who are far from perfect, this one might be for you. Especially if, like me, you have an allergic reaction to the popular mainstream fantasy romance books featuring square-jawed (or pointy-eared, take your pick) jerks and heroines who kick ass and crack jokes without breaking a sweat.
November 30, 2021
I was surprised at how much I struggled to finish this series. While I quite liked the first three books and breezed through them, this last installment just did not do it for me. Especially the world building was not fleshed out enough and just felt too shallow. If I were asked I would not be able to give a cohesive description of the geographical, cultural, or magical aspects of the world. Hence the culmination of circumstances in this book did not feel satisfying at all. The concept of the demons seemed to be very interesting and original, but was explored way too late. In my opinion there was a lot of potential lost here. Furthermore, the character interactions were too repetitive. Basically, the only conflict in all relationships resulted from constant miscommunication issues which could have been easily avoided. This might have been endearing in the first installment but it got annoying very fast after that. In particular, I would have enjoyed a more complex plot and world building instead of all this relationship building. Additionally, there was not really a lot of character development which might have made this focus more enjoyable. Also, all the different POVs did not really manage to make the different MCs more unique, distinguishable or give them any depth. However, the writing style was always very enjoyable and had a nice flow to it. In summary, I would recommend this series to readers which do not need a very fleshed out world or very complex characters but rather enjoy an adventurous story with a strong focus on romance.
April 13, 2023
The first book absolutely sucked me in. The second book was good and kept the momentum going. The third left me slightly annoyed with the emotional turmoil of “does he even like me?” going on between both couples but I kept going… and let me say I am glad I did.
I thought I knew how this might end and I was wrong, at least with respect to the demons. Even though it took 71% into book 4 for someone to just tell Lyria to talk to Vethe and work it out, their inner monologue about each other was not nearly as whiny as it was in book 3. I don’t think the prophecy was meant to be funny but the way Vethe handles any serious situation is pretty humerus. Lyria was back to being more of a fighter and showed her intelligence again. Anette and Gaul were reasonably confused about their situation and I felt the turmoil made a lot more sense than Lyria and Vethe. I find it interesting when we only see Anette from Vethes point of view she seems shy and timid and fragile but her point of view really paints her as brave, strong, and resilient.
The world building was okay, but I do appreciate how it didn’t consume the book. I got the story, characters and general idea of where they were without hundreds of pages of description and that was refreshing.
Overall I enjoyed the closure the book provided about most of the characters we met along the way and I found the series to be an easy and fun read. The spice was good, the characters were likable, and the entire series kept my interest. Will I read it again? Probably not. But I would 100% recommend it!
I thought I knew how this might end and I was wrong, at least with respect to the demons. Even though it took 71% into book 4 for someone to just tell Lyria to talk to Vethe and work it out, their inner monologue about each other was not nearly as whiny as it was in book 3. I don’t think the prophecy was meant to be funny but the way Vethe handles any serious situation is pretty humerus. Lyria was back to being more of a fighter and showed her intelligence again. Anette and Gaul were reasonably confused about their situation and I felt the turmoil made a lot more sense than Lyria and Vethe. I find it interesting when we only see Anette from Vethes point of view she seems shy and timid and fragile but her point of view really paints her as brave, strong, and resilient.
The world building was okay, but I do appreciate how it didn’t consume the book. I got the story, characters and general idea of where they were without hundreds of pages of description and that was refreshing.
Overall I enjoyed the closure the book provided about most of the characters we met along the way and I found the series to be an easy and fun read. The spice was good, the characters were likable, and the entire series kept my interest. Will I read it again? Probably not. But I would 100% recommend it!
October 10, 2021
This series had all the elements that I enjoy reading:
✅Fantasy
✅Magic
✅Plot
✅Romance
✅Steamy
However it felt like there was too much description going on and not enough dialog, and what was 4 books could have been compressed in 3. I found myself skipping paragraphs describing how the characters were moving from one spot to another to have their conversation. Also a lot of things were repeated and described in length multiple times. So maybe even down to 2 books.
I still recommend it, as it is getting harder to find all the above elements in the same book.
✅Fantasy
✅Magic
✅Plot
✅Romance
✅Steamy
However it felt like there was too much description going on and not enough dialog, and what was 4 books could have been compressed in 3. I found myself skipping paragraphs describing how the characters were moving from one spot to another to have their conversation. Also a lot of things were repeated and described in length multiple times. So maybe even down to 2 books.
I still recommend it, as it is getting harder to find all the above elements in the same book.
November 7, 2021
a really solid adventure/romance/fantasy novel, with complex & believable plot lines that tie together well, an unexpected & beautiful plot twist, and protagonists whose characterization (deftly) navigated the balance between trope & individual. the sex was good, very rarely over-the-top/gratuitous. that is, the scenes were hot, and most of them contributed in moving the plot forward, however slightly.
my only remaining question is, without giving too much away - why was the cure to mage fever what it was, and why is that lone aspect of the plot left without a resolution?
my only remaining question is, without giving too much away - why was the cure to mage fever what it was, and why is that lone aspect of the plot left without a resolution?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2024
Lovely ending to a great series! Vethe and Lyria embark on a perilous mission outside the gates of Ocrus Sheau, a kingdom where wildmages face slavery. Meanwhile, Gaul and Anette race against time to reach a secret wildmage encampment, facing challenges and unraveling long-lost secrets. I loved the progression of Vethe and Lyria's relationship from the first book, (finally some communication!) This series is a gem for those seeking a captivating blend of romance and fantasy with a touch of humor.
October 5, 2024
All in all this was an ok series. Books 1 and 4 were my least favorite. Book 1 was slow and 4 the demon world part was weird and a bit philosophical. The over abundance of sex was ridiculous, mainly when the characters indulged, it was laughable. Easy to pass over. The main characters are libertines and hedonistic but in the end find “their one”. I’m not saying characters to need to be morally white but the switch from mentioned (not written about) orgies and couplings to soul mate is laughable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2021
An Epic adult fantasy adventure with lots of swearing and steamy scenes!
This is an adult adventure with a lot of swearing and a lot of hot scenes. How much I will miss Veth, Lydia, Annette and Gaul❤️. Veth the Elementalist, the Daybringer and his Lady Guard, I had so many laughs reading all four books, I can't believe this is the end 😭. I wish there was at least one more book, we didn't get to see Veth and Lydia find a home and what happens to the princess?.
This is an adult adventure with a lot of swearing and a lot of hot scenes. How much I will miss Veth, Lydia, Annette and Gaul❤️. Veth the Elementalist, the Daybringer and his Lady Guard, I had so many laughs reading all four books, I can't believe this is the end 😭. I wish there was at least one more book, we didn't get to see Veth and Lydia find a home and what happens to the princess?.
April 6, 2023
This book makes the previous 3 worth reading. I would give this 6 stars if I could. It was so funny and action-packed and we all FINALLY got a sensible character who talked Lyria into communicating with her lover. Oh my god, everything I disliked about the previous books was fixed in this one. And the plot twist, daaaaaamn. I LOVE this book. It immediately made my top 10. Wow. Meredith, you fucking rock!
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