Spark of Madness

Ember Glen #1

by Brynn Ford

Mercy is a sinner, and Arlo is no saint…

MERCY

For years, I've served the men of Ember Glen. I've endured their depravity because it's required. But when the most vicious man in our village decides to target me during a purge, I have to make a choice…

I can kneel and serve…
or I can run and become a sinner.

I choose sin…
I choose to run.

Only, I didn't expect another man to chase me…
I didn't expect the harrowing punishments he'd make me endure once I was caught…
And I certainly didn't expect to find passion for him.

The man who calls me a sinner sets my soul on fire.


ARLO

It's my role to maintain control in Ember Glen. Selected women must serve beneath the full moon, and refusal is not an option. So, when I see her run, refusing to fulfill her duty, I have to take control…

I have an urge to follow her…
a visceral need to hunt her down.

I have to catch her...
I have to chase her.

Only, I didn't expect to find her so intoxicating…
I didn't expect the brutal punishment that awaited her for running…
And I certainly didn't expect to feel so conflicted about delivering it.

My craving for her is forbidden, but I might let her drag me to hell.


SERIES NOTE: Spark of Madness is book 1 of 3 in the Ember Glen dystopian dark romance trilogy. This trilogy follows the forbidden romance of Mercy Madness and Arlo Rainn, and the books must be read in order. Books 1 and 2 end on cliffhangers, but all 3 books in the trilogy are available now. The series is complete and ready for you to binge read!

AUTHOR NOTE: This is a dark romance series that involves many triggering elements which may be upsetting for some readers. A complete list of tropes and triggers can be found on the author's website.

READING ORDER
Book 1: Spark of Madness
Book 2: Blaze of Misery
Book 3: Embers of Mercy

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy, Cult Classics, Enemies To Lovers

ebook

Published July 21, 2022

About the author

🖤💀 Dark Romance for Daring Readers 💀🖤

Trigger Warnings: www.brynnford.com/triggers
Website: www.brynnford.com
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BookBub: bit.ly/BBbrynnford

Brynn Ford is a USA Today Bestselling Author of dark romance for daring readers. She writes emotionally heavy love stories that will twist your soul and shatter your heart before pulling you back together with a hopeful happily-ever-after.

Brynn's books are dark, sometimes disturbing, and often overwhelming. But they're always brightened by an insistent, spicy romance that will live rent-free in your head long after you've turned the final page.

When Brynn isn't obsessively writing, you may find her binge-watching favorite shows while eating far too much junk food or fanatically reading, always seeking to lose herself in the emotional roller coaster of a damn good story. She's a firm believer that her characters continue to live outside the pages in the minds of her readers. Stories don't end just because there aren't any more pages to turn.

Reviews

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spark of Madness is my first taste of Brynn Ford's work, and I'll definitely be coming back for seconds! I'm always on the lookout for dystopian romance. Sadly, I rarely find any, so when I discovered this new to me author was releasing one this summer, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on it as soon as possible. Not only is it dystopian, but it's dark and forbidden, too! I felt like I hit the jackpot.



Ember Glen is a cultish community run by men that pervert religion to satisfy their own depravity. From childhood, women are assigned to a life as a domestic or a servant. Under every full moon, the men of Ember Glen are allowed to give into their sexual urges and violent tendencies with no repercussion. They are given carte blanche to act out their deviant desires on the servants from the time they become "of age". It's seen as a holy duty, and the servants take pride in serving the community in this way, ...all except Mercy and a young servant named Delle.


 
I'm sure you have a lot of questions at this point. Why would the community allow this? Why doesn't anyone try to escape? Why do the people believe this is what God wants for them? Why does this ritual happen at all? All these questions and more are answered in the book, so I'm going to let you find out for yourselves. I don't want to be the one to spoil this twisted tale for any of you.


 
Did I enjoy this batshit crazy story? Yes, I did! Brynn Ford's writing drew me in immediately and held me captive the whole way through. I kept telling myself I was going to put the book down after one more chapter, but that never happened. I devoured the whole thing in one sitting.


 
Mercy Madness is a character that I felt a connection with immediately. She sees the horror of the situation much in the same way the reader does. Of course, she experiences some guilt based on a lifetime of indoctrination, but she knows that what's happening is wrong regardless. I admired her strength, bravery, determination, and selflessness. There is no way you won't find yourself rooting for Mercy immediately. My heart broke for her and Delle for a multitude of reasons, and I wanted to set the motherfuckers responsible for their pain on fire by the end of the book.



This story isn't for the faint of heart. If you're not a dark romance fan, I don't think you'll enjoy this one. It's pretty fucking brutal, and there is no relief for Mercy and her young friend in sight. The spark of a "romance" with Arlo is barely that. He is still very much a man of the community from beginning to end. You may feel there is hope for him, but that hope is still small at this point.



If you're looking for a happy ending, you won't find one here. This is just the first book in the series. We have a lot more terror, pain, angst, assault, sex, and violence to go!



If you're intrigued instead of turned off by everything I've said in this review, and a story that's a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and The Purge sounds appealing to you, this is your shit! One click, and buckle up! The ride is going to be a bumpy one!

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,25 "Sweet Mercy!!!" stars***



We Live To Serve; We Serve To Live.

Wow!!! What a crazy and kind of distrurbing ride was that!!!
The dystopian trope always intrigued me, but add to that dark romance and Brynn Ford took the depravity and darkness in another level!!!
Honestly, I devoured this book, even though I was feeling disturbed from time to time with everything that was taking place in here!!!
The whole situation was so wrong and I was feeling mostly rage and pity for our heroine's fate!!!
Yep, we had some romance vibes but they were very weak, at least in the first book!!!
I just can not wait to see what will happen next, even though I'm scared of what will happen after this ending!!!

"Burn, sweet sinner, and I'll bathe in flames with you."

In the distant future, a cult community is living under its own rules!!!
The men are the rulers and the women are only there to satisfy these men's needs!!!
Every full moon, the servers needs to serve the men in every sexual and violent fantasy they have!!!!
And the women think that it's a priviledge to serve, except one girl!!!
Mercy Madness is the only one who can not accept this brutal fate!!!
So, when she is to be faced with a cruel fate, she is running to save her life!!!
But that's landing her ass under lock and for her fate to be decided!!!

"I know I'm a sinner in his eyes -in everyone's eyes, soon enough. But I don't feel like I am. I only feel like a woman trying to survive madness."

Arlo Rainn is one of the members of The Control!!!
When Mercy run away, his attention had caught by her and because he is a man of their law, he chased her and gave her to the 'justice'.
Mercy Madness is a danger of their society and she must be punished, and this role belongs to Arlo... He is becoming her warden and her executioner...
But what will happen, when Mercy is sparking a weird fire inside Arlo???

"There's nothing to be gained from wanting Mercy Madness. She's been sentenced to death, and I've volunteered in a way to be her reaper."

Well, this story was crazy as shit!!!
This awful cult was taking advantage of women and when one of them started to question them, she became a target and they are about to make an example of her!!!
I loved Mercy Madness, whom may had the name, but everyone around her had the grace of madness!!!
She was a woman that wasn't afraid to share her opinion and stand her ground!!!
And even of her time of suffering, her compassion never left her!!! She was really admirable!!!
And in this madness, she found herself drown to the last person she should be...

"My life already has an expiration date, and my soul is already damned. I may as well take my warden to hell with me."

As for her warden???
Honestly, Arlo is confusing me...
From time to time, we could see some glimpses of kindness and hope for him and his feelings for Mercy was shining through the madness, but their law was encraved into him so deeply and he was questioning his glimpses of sanity!!!
I liked him, but if he won't change anything in the beginning of the next book, I don't know if I can forgive him!!!

"Your madness is spreading... I can feel the way you spark sin within me."

OMG!!! I am anticipating the next book, but I am very scared of where will lead us!!! I am afraid that awful things are awaiting us in the next instalments!!!
I wish that Mercy and Arlo's intense chemistry will lead to something good, but honestly, at this point and when the situation is like that, my hope is fading away!!!
I can not really see this thing between them as romance if atrocities will follow their path!!!

"He's as dangerous as any of the Control... perhaps even more dangerous for the fact that he can make me feel this way."

The only sure thing is that this book is not for the faint of the heart and it is not for everyone since it has a ton of ugly triggers, but if you are enjoying different, raw, dark and forbidden books, you may proceed with caution and that's the only warning you get from me!!!
Yes, darkness and wrongness is lying in the corner, but this story is a wild rollercoaster of emotions!!! And it definitely has my attention!!!

"I don't know what I am; I don't know who I am. But I know I don't belong here in Ember Glen."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one fucked up story but even so I simply devoured the whole book and it left me wanting more. The story gave me vibes à la The Hunger Games vs dark romance and I was so here for it all. I'm already psyched out of my mind for the second book. It's going to be a triloy so I can't wait to see where the author is going to take the next books. I'm sure it's going to be one hell of a ride!

I'm not going to do a decription of what the book is about because I think the synopsis is very clear on that and I don't think I could do a better job myself. The character of Mercy Madness was not one I was expected. She was far more headstrong, spunkier and gutsier than I thought she would be. Arlo was also a very surprising character because he very much believes in the doctrination that he's been raised in and as a member of The Control he forces that doctrination as the word of God. Of course the more time he spends with Mercy, the more softer moments we glimpse from him but that's not to say that he would go fully against the law for her.

The lust that sparked between them was so very hot, which was very forbidden made the story and their interactions all the more intense and fiery. And then there's Brynn Ford's writing. This was not my first book by her but once again I have been reminded that she's such a good writer. She really has a knack of hooking the reader until they finish the book and leaving them wanting more. At least that's happened to me.

Dark, twisted and insanely delicious, Spark of Madness by Brynn Ford is officially the darkest book I've ever read. And I loved every single page of it. I'd highly recommend it to dark romance and forbidden love fans. You don't want to miss this one!

[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most twisted dark and disturbing but compelling stories I’ve read it’s intense forbidden and super spicy it revolves around a dystopian/cult setting which intrigued me and I found so interesting the world building the characters just everything about this story is dark bat shit crazy and intoxicating I have heard some people say it’s a cross between The Handmaid’s Tale and the Purge and I would totally agree it does end on a cliffhanger of epic proportions as this is a trilogy and I can’t wait for the next book I’m definitely rooting for Arlo and Mercy I can’t wait to see how this author pulls this story off ! CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS THIS BOOK WON’T BE FOR EVERYONE YOU’VE BEEN WARNED! However I loved it devoured it and I’m obsessed with it! Can’t wait for Blaze Of Misery!


Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam-🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Overall rating 5/5⭐️

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying THANK YOU to Jessica @Chatterbooks Book Blog, From her rave review of the series, I knew I had to give it a try. Dark romance, dystopian society, strong heroine, horrific experiences, sinners and servants… Spark of Madness has all of that and more.

I admired the heck out of Mercy. She seemed to be the only one who questioned her place in life. She was the only one who spoke up for how wrong things were. Why were men allowed to subjugate, abuse, and generally mistreat women with no consequences? Why were women punished for questioning or refusing the status quo? She was a warrior for her people, even if they couldn’t see or acknowledge it.

After recently watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I couldn’t help drawing parallels, but at the same time, this story is so different. The construct of this society is also mired in twisted religion, women are oppressed, meant to be seen and to serve, not to have thoughts or feelings or to be heard. Select men are chosen to rule over everyone and each caste has a certain set of rules they must follow. In that vein, Arlo reminded me of Nick, in that he lives in the society and, until meeting Mercy, he believed in the principles of that society. However, he starts to question himself and those around him. While he first tries to rationalize it, it seems he’s coming to accept that something’s wrong with what he was forced to believe.

Arlo isn't a hero in my eyes... yet. But with the way this author writes, I can easily see her convincing me to like him.

My thoughts for the rest of this series:
- Killian must die. The elders must die.
- I think that the idea of no world beyond Ember’s Glen is a lie. I think normal society exists and this cultish environment exists outside of accepted society. I hope Mercy burns down this place and finds a new home in the real world. That would be my hope for her happy ending. I’m not sold on that ending being with Arlo, but I’m guessing the next two books will work to change my mind.

Find more here - Ember Glen Trilogy

[Kayla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so excited that I received an early copy of this book! With that being said all opinions are 100% mine and would be the same had I not received the copy for free.
Please if your going to read this make sure e to check all trigger warnings!

Mercy and Arlo have my heart, their relationship.. just yess. Mercy’s character was just so well written and I love the development that both main characters go through.
This is a first person dual pov, dystopian, dark romance. This is a very very dark book, not for the faint of heart.

Im so very excited to read the next book in the series!

[Jessica (Bestie Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in love… this book is like all my favorite things rolled into one!
Dystopian✔️
Cult-ish ✔️
Dark ✔️
Morally Grey FMC✔️

This is like the handmaid‘s tale with a little bit of hunger games, and maybe a sprinkle of divergent. Loved it!!!!

[Anto~mcbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me shivers. Shivers of disgust? Shivers of excitement? The answer is yes.

If you’re easily triggered or if you get easily enraged by highly unjust situations, I’m sorry to say you’ll have to sit this one out or risk having your blood pressure hit the roof. When Brynn Ford decided to go dark with this book, she went fucking PITCH-BLACK (like that Vantablack paint or whatever that was all the rage a few months back).



The only time I’ve ever felt as indignant as I did while reading Spark of Madness , was while watching The Handmaid’s Tale . And funnily enough, I feel like both stories could comfortably live in the same universe. Ember Glen was basically like an isolated, self-governing community; completely cut-out from the rest of the world. But their religious zeal, disgusting hypocrisy and abysmal treatment of women in general were so reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale that it’s impossible for me not to draw a comparison. I haven’t actually read the books that inspired the show, so I don’t actually know how graphic Margaret Atwood gets, but Brynn did not shy away from the awfulness. She went all in, but not in any kind of gratuitous way. And that was one of the features that made this story shine. It can be hard to straddle the fence between needless horror and necessary repugnance, and dark romance not always manages to keep the balance, but this book accomplished it beautifully. Well done, Ms Ford.



The story opened up on the night of a full moon, a night when the Servants, a group of women pretty much indentured to the men of Ember Glen, are forced to offer their bodies to them to satisfy their lustful and violent urges in an ritual-type event called The Purge fitting, I know.



Mercy was one of these so called Servants, but unlike the rest of the ladies, she seemed to be the only one “awake”, the only one aware that the whole of this village had been brain-washed into believing this revolting practice was justified and necessary. And because she was painfully wise to the wrongness of her situation, she found it unbearably hard to meekly accept her fate and obediently give up her agency.

I take another step back, though I know there will be hell to pay if anyone sees me retreating. I should be marching toward him. I should be on my knees for him, knowing he's coming to use me. But no matter how hard I try, I can't plant my feet. I can't bend. I can't sink to my knees and welcome his purge. I'm a sinner... a rebel. I'm weak.

So, she ended up doing what any rational person would do if someone came after them with the intention of setting them on fire: she ran the fuck away. But as established, Servants are meant to happily surrender their bodies to the men on the nights when the moon is full for them to do whatever they want. And it just so happened that Arlo, one of the seven members of The Control, saw her fleeing into the forest.

The Control are anointed by God to meet violence in the name of keeping the peace—one of so many contradictions of our religious law.

The Control were basically the judges, jury and executioners of Ember Glen, and because Mercy had been caught breaking THE cardinal rule that governed this twisted society, it was decided she would face punishment and be made an example out of to deter any other kind of rebellion from the other Servants.



And this was where things started to get messy and complicated for Arlo. His interest had been piqued by this defiant, fiery young woman. He was unescapably drawn to her sinful personality and good looks.

What sins would I commit with her alone? A shudder rips through my spine. I'm going to need a bathtub full of ice cubes to shake this blasphemous desire.

Of course, because this is dark romance and angst is an amazing thing that most readers have a love/hate relationship with, the path for Mercy and Arlo couldn’t be an easy one. From their first time meeting, both of them were reluctantly intrigued and attracted to each other but keenly aware that they firmly stood on opposing sides. I can’t even tell you the amount of satisfaction I got from all the times they had to mentally slap some sense into themselves. Both had to constantly remind themselves to keep their guard up and not trust the other person.



They were like opposing magnets, inherently meant to be pulled closer, but cursed to have to fight it every step of the way, because they were legit enemies. And when I say legit, I mean legit . Spark of Madness wasn’t some type of Romeo and Juliet nonsense where they wanted to be together but couldn’t. Mercy and Arlo truly loathed each other. She thought he was a misogynistic, hypocritical asshole, always blaming her for his attraction to her, while he thought she was devil-possessed temptress brought to Earth to test his fate and drag him down to hell with her. Angst FTW!



Because I don’t often read dystopia, I tend to forget how much I love this genre. I was captivated by the mix of old and new. How the beliefs and practices of this future-set society, that were frankly medieval, clashed with the odd glimpses of sophisticated technology, like bracelets that opened doors or gigantic screens that allowed for video calls.

The whole time reading this, I was disgusted, horrified but helplessly enthralled by each new event that unfolded. It was all so very twisted and depraved. Maddening in its unfairness, but also bewitching in its darkness. More than once, this story made me want to rage, rebel and scream. Made me want to burn it all to the ground and laugh gleefully in vengeance as everything went up in flames. I just have an extremely low tolerance for haughty and self-righteous assholes, in case that hasn’t been made clear yet LOL. I was infuriated by the sheer hypocrisy of the men of this world and the subservient, brain-washed responses of the women.



At the same time though, I was captivated by the all the contradictions and forced into asking myself if, perhaps, I’m not messed up to some extent given how much I enjoyed the book. I simultaneously hated and loved every moment of it.

The one reason I’m not rating Spark of Madness 5⭐ is because, despite how awesome the story and characters were, the writing got very repetitive and annoying at times in its use of imagery and terminology related to sparks, fire, burning, etc. It was too much.

Still, the book was awesome, shit is only gonna get more intense from here on out (that cliffhanger was breath-stealing) and I, for once, am vibrating with anticipation to see how this saga will continue.



As last gift, I’ll leave you with a little quote to illustrate how amazing and badass of a character Mercy was, and why you’ll have no option but to love and root for her to singlehandedly bring down the wrath of a woman unjustly punished on all of these despicable people (particularly the men of The Control fuck those dudes. Except for maybe Theo):

If they want to reduce the quality of their existence to being ruled by impulses, they can go right ahead. But I will not. I am more than an urge to act violently. I am more than a man ruled by his sexual needs in moments of weakness.[...]I am not a raging impulse of emotion to be satiated by outbursts. I'm a woman—something stronger and far more spectacular than they'll ever be.

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS



Star Rating : 4/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : Yes

Hero : Arlo

Heroine : Mercy

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 5/10

Heat Rating : 5/10

Overall Opinion :
This is the first book of a branch new series by my favorite dark romance author! I have been following Brynn Ford for a long time and there is just something about her writing that always hooks me in. It's amazing, it's angsty and don’t even get me started on the kinky scenes. Those are the best parts, probably lmao.

Arlo and Mercy have a tale full of darkness, pain and eventual love. Their chemistry was off the charts hot and the storyline intrigued me a lot. I loved seeing these two in action and am so excited for book two! Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there!

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[Lammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing and Horrifying

This book is an absolute gut punch.

Brynn has created a horrifying dystopian world and we are thrown right into the depravity of it from the first pages.

Mercy is aptly named. Her actions in saving herself from a horrifying fate set up the plot for this book. She is terrified at the beginning but becomes stronger and rebellious as the book goes on. Throughout everything she keeps her love for her fellow servants/sisters even though they have turned their backs on her. She is hands down one of the strongest characters I have ever read.

Arlo is totally indoctrinated into the society he lives in. He blames Mercy for her “sins” and the temptation she makes him feel. As the book progresses he starts to question himself and the behaviour of those around them. Even though I want to strangle him I am also empathetic for the the loss of things in his life he isn’t even aware he is missing.

This book will make you sad, horrified, nauseous and emotional. You will rage. It is mesmerizing and intoxicating.

I’m terrified for book 2. Here we go …

[Sophie (lambsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review:

Note: This is a dark romance with pretty unforgivable characters, check out the TWs below.

In Ember Glen, men control their urges by purging during the full moon. When Mercy runs from her duty and Arlo catches her, she is forced to find absolution through a series of brutal trials.

I really liked the FMC Mercy, how strong she was, how resilient. Most of the other characters though…I did not like. It's hard to redeem characters that have no redeeming qualities, you know? I will jump into the second book once it comes out since this one is left on a cliffhanger.

The romance in the book is iffy (non-con/dub-con) and I struggled a lot to like the MMC - I still don’t like him now. The plot/world-building was great and I’m looking forward to seeing more of this Dystopian era.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
“Priest” and servant/slave
Enemies to lovers
Dystopian/Cult

Triggers: Rape, Torture, Murder, Misogyny-to-the-extreme, Branding, Bondage, Child Abuse/Grooming, Miscarriage

Some quotes I loved from the book:



Burn, sweet sinner, and I’ll bathe in flames with you.

“I don’t need anyone to stand beside me, least of all men like you.”

If this is the flavor of sin, then let me be gluttonous for it. Let me burn in hell for the taste of it.

Fuck absolution. Let me burn in hell with her.

The way she needs me is spiritual, holy, divine. In this moment, I am God, and she prays for me to grant her pleasure in mercy.

“I’m fighting sin, but, Mercy…” he pauses, leans close, and brushes his mouth over mine, “I want you to drag me to hell.”



__________________________________________________________
I dunno what the fuck I just read but I need the next one immediately and it’s NOT OUT YET 😭😭

Full review to come soon, I need some time to think, and maybe cry at the horror these women face

____________________________________

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[Read What I Like Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPARK OF MADNESS (EMBER GLEN BOOK ONE)

Release Date: 07/21/22
Kindle Unlimited: [ ]YES [X]NO
Stand-alone: [ ]YES [X]NO
Author: Brynn Ford
Number of pages: 281
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
POV: Dual, first person
Main Characters: Mercy & Arlo
Genre: Dystopian dark Romance
Tropes: enemies to lovers; forbidden relationship; misogynistic society; heroine in danger; warden/ward

Review:

“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦… 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

Spark of Madness was my first contact with dystopian romances and it was an unforgettable experience.
In a place called Ember Glenn (in the future) there is a cult-like society where servant women is only meant to serve, never to question, never to dissent. The ones who do are called sinner and must face consequences.

I won’t lie to you, it was difficult to me to read this book. Not because it was poorly written, on the contrary, Brynn wrote a tale which easily could be a reality some time from now, or maybe it has been in the past or even is happening right now without we knowing it. The injustices were so great I had to keep in mind she will bring justice to these characters by the end of this trilogy.
Mercy is a woman who dared to question her reality and Arlo is a man who has been indoctrinated and even when he believes something is unfair he thinks he is sinning. I spent most of the book mad at him and I’m highly curious to know how Brynn will redeem him.

If you like dystopian romances (or even if you’ve never read one before, like myself), check out Spark of Madness, but bare in mind it’s a trilogy, so it ends in a cliffhanger. Also, you may want to check the TW list if you’re not used to dark subjects.

*** This advanced copy was provided to me in exchange of my honest opinion. ***

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like it's been a thousand years since i read a dystopian romance! makes me feel like i'm in middle school again 🥲 (that is if the ya i read in middle school had nonconsensual orgies)

this was decent! the hierarchy/setup of their society lacks really any subtlety, and i never sincerely felt like Brynn Ford had much to say about the topics she was writing about. like yeah patriarchy bad, for sure queen, but what else! the religion aspect lacks nuance as well. given that this book is set in the year 2100-something, i wish that we'd been given substantial context for how these men came to be in power and where this idea of The Purge came from.

what i liked:
Mercy is a good heroine! this poor woman needs to run off into the mountains and live in peace, fr.

Arlo, listen... i understand he's been indoctrinated his entire life to think and act the way he does. but i'm ready for him to make up his mind on how he feels and to do something. otherwise, i think he is pretty interesting, and has the potential for some good development. let's hope!

little Delle. this foolish girl. if she ends up dead like Rue bitch... it better not happen, is all i'm saying.

didn't like:
again, so much of the plot lacked subtlety. it's basically the lovechild of the Hunger Games and The Handmaids Tale

what's the deal with all of the technology? the plumbing? the RAIN SHOWER HEAD LOL. these things felt really out of place, these people are meant to be isolated. (or so we're told, you know it's all very Divergent/Delirium)

where in the fuck did Hyatt Price go?! he set a girl on fire and then DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORLD.

[Joy Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆    Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Angst: 💣💣💣    Plot: 📚📚📚📚📚

Cliffhanger? ✅️

Do I recommend? ✅️ 

Trigger Warnings: ☠️ ☠️ ☠️ all Warnings are listed on the author’s website 

Tropes: dark dystopian romance, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden, twisted, forced proximity, priest/servant

Ember Glen is a society unlike any other or more like a cult. Girls are chosen to either be domestic or servants when they are children. When the servants come of age, they are forced to serve in unbelievably cruel ways under the light of the full moon. Those who don't are labeled sinners and dealt with accordingly. Mercy Madness struggles to push herself through every full moon until she finally decides to run from duty. Arlo was part of the Control which meant he lived like royalty and was seen like a priest. When he sees Mercy run, he gives chase, promising punishment when caught. What neither realized was that her specialized punishment would change both of their lives forever.

This book was epically twisted with a really unique dystopian plot that immediately grabbed my attention and refused to let go. I've been wanting to read a Brynn Ford novel for some time now and I fell in love with her method of writing. I had strong feelings concerning the community in this book. Anger rode me hard. Women are not treated right and I love Mercy for fighting back. I would have been right by her side. This book has some heavy triggers and is very dark. If triggers are a problem for you, please educate yourself before reading. If they don't get in your way, then I recommend this read. This is my honest opinion, freely given. 

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spark of Madness is the first book in Brynn Ford's new series called Ember Glen and I have mixed feelings about it.

It is a mix of The Purge and The Handmaid's Tale and introduces us to a cult-like community called Ember Glen. To be honest I was a bit uncomfortable while I was reading this book. Being no stranger to dark romance and Brynn Ford's books, this one surprised me. While to plot was absolutely amazing, the actions of the men and all the trials were so disturbing that I wasn't sure I was going to finish reading it.

Mercy is an FMC that I absolutely adored and I connected with her really easily. I feel like that was mainly because she is one of the only women in the book that recognized that what they were doing to them was wrong. She is such a brave and strong woman, so it was hard to read about all the pain and horror that she was subjected to.

The romance factor in this book is pretty much non-existent. There is an MMC named Arlo, whom I was rooting for, but he disappointed me in every way possible.

Spark of Madness is definitely a dark book, with a story that is not for the faint of heart. It mentions a lot of sensitive topics that might be triggering to some people so please read the TWs before reading this book.

The concept of this book is amazing, but it just wasn't for me and I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series.

I've received an ARC via The Smuthood.

[Cassie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not completely unique, this was an intriguing (and, of course, horrifying) concept for a book. It was interesting to see the power of propaganda and how that can create what is essentially a religious cult. I was hoping to get more on how this society works, but that may come in the later books in the series. My biggest issue with the book is that it is so drawn out. We essentially go round and round with the same conflict and dilemma for the entirety of the book and then the rising action is the very end of the book. No climax, no falling action, it’s all saved for the very beginning of the second book. It just makes me feel like this series could potentially be one longer book. Also, the writing in general is pretty good, but the attempts at poetic language are too much for me. Nevertheless, kudos to Ford for doing dark romance in a much better way than the majority of the popular examples I have come across. I shouldn’t have to say this, but I applaud that she doesn’t romanticize lack of consent. Basically the whole premise of the book is that nonconsensual acts are despicable (obviously taken to an extreme in this dystopian society), and I appreciate that in a genre that otherwise seems to send the message that it’s okay as long as the MMC is attractive and mysterious.

CW: general violence, death, sexual violence (towards adults and children), homophobia

[Plus Size Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Video Review: https://www.tiktok.com/@plus.size.bib...

I received an ARC copy of this book and am so mad at myself for not reading it immediately.

Ember Glen is a dark and twisted community where then men are encouraged, enabled, and expected to purge all their sexual and violent impulses upon God's chosen servants. Servants are women as young as sixteen who are condition to eagerly embrace violent physical and sexual attacks for the good of the community.

From page one I was disgusted and outraged by the treatment of these woman as well as the thought process behind it all.

This book felt like Handmaiden's Tale, linked up with M. Night Shyamalan's Village, sprinkled with Warren Jeff's doctrine and overseen by President Snow and/or every other sick game master.

Our girl Mercy Madness is a servant who is labeled a sinner because she didn't want to die. Her failure to go happily towards her death and instead practiced self-preservation and common sense is what sets off a chain of punishment, isolation, and hypocrisy.

Our MMC Arlo will give you whiplash. It's clear he is struggling with his personal beliefs and duty. His treatment of Mercy is confusing, frustrating, and harsh.

I had so many feelings during this book. It was by far the absolute BEST book I've read this month if not this year. It's so hard for me to write this without breaking down every social, moral, and unethical issue presented. I could probably rant, cry, and dissect this book for hours.

I think what made this so frustrating and scary is that this could happen. Regardless of how far-fetched and violent it is, I can't help but look at the climate of the world around us, and the cult leaders of past and present who have weaponized sexual abuse and think to myself, that this could be true story one day.

I highly recommend this to any person who recognizes that women are not responsible for the urges of man. Who has a stomach for the violence and the ability to witness injustice without being triggered. You will want to read every trigger warning before starting this book because the reader is not eased into anything. Right from the jump you will be bombarded with so much confusion and anger inducing behavior and it doesn't get better. But if you got thick skin like me and like seeing bad ass female main characters taking on the patriarchy then read this shit!

I promise you will not be disappointed.

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book is dark and interesting! Spark of Madness is my first book by Brynn Ford and it certainly won’t be my last. This was a dark, dystopian forbidden romance with some heavy triggers.

Ember Glen is a cult where men have perverted religion as a way to satisfy their darkness and depravity. Women are essentially only there to cater to these men’s needs and from childhood are assigned to be either a domestic or a servant. Every full moon, men have free reign to fulfil all their sexual and violent fantasies with the servants however they wish to. Most of these women with the exception being Mercy think it's an honor to serve. Mercy ran away to save her life only to be caught and fated a series of punishments at the hand of Arlo.

I was immediately drawn into this world by Brynn’s writing and I did enjoy this book. It was a rollercoaster of emotions that left me wanting more. Mercy’s character was inspirational. She was headstrong in a way I didn’t expect her to be after the type of community she’s a part of. Arlo’s character was confusing and also unexpected because he fully believes in the rituals and doctrination of Ember Glen, but when with Mercy he seems to soften.

The chemistry between the two is intense and I can’t wait to see where their tale of darkness, terror and pain will go after that cliffhanger!

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn, sweet sinner, and I'll bathe in flames with you.

Spark of Madness is my first foray into Brynn Ford’s work, and what an introduction it has been! A dystopian tale of indoctrination and rebellion, darrrk (the extra r’s are definitely earned) forbidden romance and utter depravity, book one of the Ember Glen series is one that truly makes its readers uncomfortable…which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

What makes one a sinner? Is it swimming against the tide of a religiously fanatical, misogynistic community, fleeing the scorching flames of duty? Is it blindly following the darkened, archaic paths paved by those that came before? Is it letting go and giving into your deepest desires?

Mercy and Arlo come from opposite ends of the communal spectrum, servant and authority. While both are meant to serve their peers, one lives a life of luxury while the other is meant to passionately welcome one of sacrifice. After an act of disobedience, their worlds collide and the line between good and evil becomes blurred beyond recognition.

I really enjoyed witnessing the dynamics between these two finely crafted and damaged characters. Each finds unexpected solace and pleasure with the other, all while hiding from the public eye. Delicious dialogue, all the angst, and a gradual descent into questioning personal beliefs, I couldn’t get enough of these two.

The setting is wholly discomfiting, set in a future with such backward, antiquated ideals, setting the stage for the overall tone of the novel. The writing is flowing and engaging, making those pages turn at an alarming rate. The steam *chef’s kiss*. And that cliffhanger…beautiful torture. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment of the series.

Note: This is not a read for the faint of heart, and has some pretty intense triggers. I highly suggest taking a look at the comprehensive list of warnings before diving in.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in a dystopian future where women either become domestic wives or they serve the men of Ember Glen. Ember Glen is a cult-like community where Mercy is sent to serve men every month in whatever sexual fantasy they have. The community has the most twisted beliefs and Mercy seems to be one of the only women who can’t stand what they are forced to do. Eventually, Mercy disobeys orders and is faced with three trials she must endure as punishment.

This book was a complete rollercoaster. I kept feeling turned on and then completely disgusted with how the men thought and what Mercy was forced to do. I was uncomfortable a lot of the times with what this world entailed for women and how the men treated them. Part of it was uncomfortable because of what’s happening in the world today as well. This is a work of fiction, yet some elements seem so close to how things could go wrong.

It gave me some Handmaids Tale vibes.

Mercy was a badass to say the least. She was the bravest character. She was selfless at times and faced everything head on fighting for what she thought was right.

As for Arlo, he intrigued me. His internal struggle was apparent throughout the book as he felt drawn to Mercy. Yet, he also frustrated me. He has deep rooted beliefs that are abhorrent.

The spice was so hot and I loved how it was incorporated a little bit at a time throughout the book.

My only critique is that some of the language got a bit repetitive.

I can’t wait to see how Mercy does in the trials and how Arlo reacts to it all in the next book! 🙌

Thank you theSmuthood & Brynn Ford for the ARC for my honest opinion.

[Micheala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy received from the author. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.

In high school, I adored dystopia romance. Add steam and something you’d read at a Pepper Winters or Tillie Cole darkness level, and this is what Spark of Madness is. It’s everything I wanted, needed, and didn’t know I wanted.

I adore the characters. Mercy is fantastic for an FMC. Very strong, determined, and sticks to what she believes in. Arlo is great. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place with his attraction for Mercy and the situation they’ve found themselves in. Forced proximity anyone? It’s here, it’s fantastic, and it’s angsty.

This ends in a cliffhanger and in the exact spot I suspected it would too, unfortunately. I’m dying to know what happens to her in the next installment, and more so, how Arlo handles it. I’m ready for the secret touches and looks and maybe jealousy at seeing…. I’ll end that thought there because I won’t spoil the amazingness that is this book.

I can’t wait to get it in paperback. This is definitely a shelf-worthy book.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off if you don’t brutally dark or cultish books step away and leave it for someone like me loves it!!!! From the jump I loved Mercy!!!! She is fierce and doesn’t agree with the ways her community allows the men of Ember Glen to purge themselves of there sick tendencies but when one of them, Arlo, is in charge of her trials that are met to only lead her to death she’s in fight or flight mode but it’s not looking like Arlo is going to let his feelings that he’s not even fully aware of cloud what he feels needs to be done. Can’t wait for more from this series!!!!

[Liz ~ LittleBoneLibrary]

Ever read a book and think, “WTF did I just read?”

That’s how I felt after reading this one and I mean that in all the best ways. I love a book that makes you think and question and reflect. I also love a deeply dark and disturbing book so this really worked out for me! I am looking forward to the next two books…I think 🤔

Massive CW/TW with this book so please proceed with caution. Check the authors website for a full listing. It’s very Hunger Games meets dark romance with a splash of religious trauma.

Mercy Madness refused to serve the men of Ember Glen and that is a big infraction. Society must punish her for her dissent and disobedience. Arlo is a member of The Council and has decided to lead the trials against her. Chemistry flys and morals are questioned. Is this way of life the right way?

[Jennifer Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting spin on a religious cult book, I didn’t really know what to expect and it was a little all over the place. There’s different “types” of women, either they are housewives or they are available for the monthly purge. Some things weren’t super clear to me on how things were run and women assigned but maybe that is part of the mystery as well.

[Kristina Marquardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Trigger Warnings ⚠️ ***

This was a very dark story in a dystopia world surrounding in sexual abuse. The men in this story are men of their God, and the women are servants of that God with the only purpose being for men's pleasure to indulge in their violent and sexual impulses once a month on the full moon.

The story is based around a hidden book of God that tells of any woman not fulfilling her duty to serve men is a sinner. Women are to be a servant, happy to serve the ways of men, allowing them to purge their violent and sexual desires using the servant's body.

This story is hard to swallow, and still, I had a hard time putting it down. The FMC is strong and rebellious and everything I hope for in a woman in her situation. The male characters lack backbone and integrity. It shows a world of brainwashed souls abusing and abused in the name of religion.

Overall, I found Brynn Ford's writing to be enjoyable with pleasant flow on a disturbing topic. Though the spice level was 5 out of 5, I would not classify this book as a romance novel.

[huh_lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh I knew I was going to regret starting this book without the other books published, but it’s ok, I’m just greedy.

This world Brynn creates is FU¢KED up and depraved, think of a distorted cult dystopian society.

Mercy Madness, despite her surname, maybe the sanest of them all. She’s passion, perseverance, kindness, compassion, and bad a$$ all in one. Honestly one of my favorite heroines Brynn has created.

Arlo Rainn, a keeper of Ember Glen, is burdened as the warden of Mercy in a trial of her faith and freedom. He’s moody, mercurial, and frustrating. You’ll love and hate him.

Mercy and Arlo forced by their circumstances fall in a twisted tryst, filled with a vortex of emotions.

In spectacular Brynn fashion, we’re suspended over the edge, not quite free falling but not yet on hard surface. So here’s to waiting for book two, Blaze of Misery.

[please view trigger warnings before reading]

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 1 - welcome to the new world order 😅 Brynn jumps right in and we do to.. buckle up, it’s going to be a ride.

Mercy is surviving another monthly Impulse. This isolated community believes that men should be allowed to purge their wicked impulses… But are ever so kind (feel my sarcasm and distain) as to only subject themselves onto a select group of females from their community. The rules of Impulse are simple, kneel and wait your turn, be thankful, be ready… and she tries. She really does. But who can be ready and thankful for this? Given that they’ve been indoctrinated into the society… Everybody but her.

But it is definitely hard to be the trailblazer. She’s quiet about her dissent. Unfortunately she’s not unnoticed. Members of Control have been watching and they’ve noticed.

Arlo, a member of Control catches up with Mercy on this fateful night. But it’s not just Mercy that has sinned and failed to provide happy service.

The society decides that Mercy is to be made an example of. Unfortunately a sister steps forward… And this is how our dissent begins.

But what shaped Mercy? What started her on this path to free thinking? Is she going to be the trigger for Arlo’s awakening? Or is she just another Servant destined to be swept away by Ember Glen.

Silly boys, that oath doesn’t mean what you think it does. But don’t worry… I have faith that they will teach you. 😏 #DeathBeforeDishonor #Dissent #DissentIntoMadness #MercyMadness #TheyAreNotReady #SparkOfMadness #ItOnlyTakesASpark

CW in sample, TW on author’s site
Dark, (ult, K1nk, Enemies to Lovers, Dystopia

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 - Rounded to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads

The concept of this book is quite intriguing - a dystopian world set about 150 years in the future with vibes of Handmaid’s Tale and religious primal rituals.

I enjoyed the two main characters - Mercy and Arlo. I particularly liked Arlo’s inner conflict and his struggle against his religious indoctrination. His poetry was quite nice as well. Mercy is a character that I think a lot of women can relate to - she questions everything she’s been taught and thinks for herself.

I did struggle to understand and visualize this dystopian world. I think it could have been more descriptive and more time could have been spent on world-building so I could understand how things work. More descriptive context would have been helpful for me to have a more immersive experience.

[AllieTurnsPages_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of I want to say this is not a read for those faint of heart.
This is a dark , twisted and compelling story and it was absolutely freaking everything I didn’t know I needed!
I devoured every bit of this dark romance, dystopian - cult like setting, and I am left craving more! So happy to have found this author, she is absolutely remarkably talented at setting the stage for the characters in such an compelling and intriguing way! Dynamincs between such characters were literally *chefs kiss*
I will admit the books that can make me feel slightly uncomfortable is an all around win for me!
Everything about this book was engaging; thrilling and I absolutely cannot wait to see what we have to look forward to in book two!!!

[Amu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah 😳 it’s a dark dystopia romance. And before you read, you better check the TWs first.

Anyway, it was so intense from the beginning. I liked the author didn’t hold back on creating the misery around Mercy. It made her connection with Arlo more meaningful, especially given the circumstances of their meeting.

Also, Arlo made me curious!!! I couldn’t wait to see what he would do. Oh, I liked the writing style here. It built up the anticipation of what would happen next.