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The Witching Hour #1
Fury and Flame
Ollie’s kind are dwindling.
The once respected witches have been hunted for decades by the Fae, forcing them to reside in the deadly Darkwood. As if dealing with witch hunters isn’t bad enough, people are disappearing. When Ollie discovers an opportunity to save her people and search for her missing friend, she jumps at the chance, ignoring the danger it puts her in.
Ryker, an elven general, is no stranger to war. When his close friend— the king's son— seeks his aid to overthrow the tyrant Fae Queen, Ryker agrees. On this endeavor, he is partnered with Ollie—the foul mouthed witch who sets fire to his heart and soul— to investigate a slew of disappearances throughout their joined lands. The only problem: Ryker is a mated man—still grieving the loss of his soulmate.
With the kingdoms of the realm on the brink of war, can Ollie and Ryker navigate a rebellion, as well as their growing feelings for each other?
Lovers of Jennifer L Armentrout and Sarah J Maas will love this debut fantasy romance full of magic and mates.
The once respected witches have been hunted for decades by the Fae, forcing them to reside in the deadly Darkwood. As if dealing with witch hunters isn’t bad enough, people are disappearing. When Ollie discovers an opportunity to save her people and search for her missing friend, she jumps at the chance, ignoring the danger it puts her in.
Ryker, an elven general, is no stranger to war. When his close friend— the king's son— seeks his aid to overthrow the tyrant Fae Queen, Ryker agrees. On this endeavor, he is partnered with Ollie—the foul mouthed witch who sets fire to his heart and soul— to investigate a slew of disappearances throughout their joined lands. The only problem: Ryker is a mated man—still grieving the loss of his soulmate.
With the kingdoms of the realm on the brink of war, can Ollie and Ryker navigate a rebellion, as well as their growing feelings for each other?
Lovers of Jennifer L Armentrout and Sarah J Maas will love this debut fantasy romance full of magic and mates.
414 pages, ebook
First published October 31, 2022
9 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 13, 2022
Highly Recommend!
Slow Burn? Yes. Spice? Yes. Witches, Fae, Who Did this to you, Fight for a crown? Yes.
I received an ARC and throughly enjoyed this book. Ollie is one bad ass witch with a don’t care attitude. She also has a soft side and doesn’t mind showing it. It’s nice seeing the badass breaking down but getting right back up again. And she is fiercely protective of what she cares about. The slow burn and sexual tension is chef’s kiss. Yes it does end on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
Slow Burn? Yes. Spice? Yes. Witches, Fae, Who Did this to you, Fight for a crown? Yes.
I received an ARC and throughly enjoyed this book. Ollie is one bad ass witch with a don’t care attitude. She also has a soft side and doesn’t mind showing it. It’s nice seeing the badass breaking down but getting right back up again. And she is fiercely protective of what she cares about. The slow burn and sexual tension is chef’s kiss. Yes it does end on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
November 13, 2022
I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. This gave ACOTAR vibes but with even more badass characters.
Witches, fae, elves, humans, and more. Love and lust and spice and ANIMALS! This is truly the fantasy book of my dreams and I am obsessed. The writing was incredible, the magic and the action was super interesting, the characters were all loveable and there are ANIMALS.
I can’t recommend this enough. Get lost in this world! You will love it!
Witches, fae, elves, humans, and more. Love and lust and spice and ANIMALS! This is truly the fantasy book of my dreams and I am obsessed. The writing was incredible, the magic and the action was super interesting, the characters were all loveable and there are ANIMALS.
I can’t recommend this enough. Get lost in this world! You will love it!
July 2, 2023
I accidentally deleted my review for this but basically all that I need to say is this book was incredibly underdeveloped. Ollie fucking Ravenwood is the most annoying petulant bratty character I have ever had the misfortune of reading about and she does not take no for an answer. She relentlessly pursues a man who repeatedly tells her no, he is not interested in her. She tells him that no matter how much he denies her she'll keep chasing after him until he has no choice but to give in. Now, imagine if a man were doing that to a woman? He would immediately be a called a stalker, a predator, a creep. Yet I see people leaving reviews about how amazing Ollie is and how she's a force to be reckoned with. No, she is one step away from crossing a line that cannot be uncrossed because she cannot take no for an answer and has deluded herself into believing that a man who has repeatedly told her no wants her. It's very delusional and pathetic and I couldn't continue her story because I really don't want to watch someone like that get a happy ending.
September 11, 2022
First of all, huge thank you to the author for this ARC 🖤 I feel incredibly honored!
4.5 stars from me!! MINOR spoilers (kinda) 🤷🏻♀️ just be warned 🖤
I really, really enjoyed Fury and Flame! The author describes this as a dark fantasy romance and I agree. It’s not as dark as I was personally expecting but I enjoy some really DARK, dark romance so that’s not saying much 🙃 It definitely leans more on the romance than the fantasy end for me as the relationships definitely take the front seat through the story. NOT at all in a bad way. The story is told from multiple POVs which really helps you get a more well rounded experience in this world. Hands down, Ryker and Ollie were my favorite characters for very different reasons. I’ll simp for Ryker any day. I could really tell this book was influenced by Norse mythology and culture and that sold me right away! It’s not exact and it’s not historically accurate or anything, but this fantasy world has many interesting aspects. There are a few things that I’m personally still trying to understand in the world and the magic system but I feel as we move through the series more and more will start to fall into place. There are witches, elves, fae, and more!
The story follows Ollie, our FMC, and her animal friends (which she saves throughout the story) ❤️ Ollie is a witch, specifically the future witch queen. She’s confident, fiery, stubborn, strong, brave, and sassy as hell! Personally I love a FMC that isn’t a “damsel in distress” and can really hold her own with no qualms. She is unapologetically herself which I really appreciate. She really goes toe to toe with some of the strong, hard-hitting males and they either respect her or regret their choices in the end. You learn a lot about Ollie through this story and what she has gone through growing up, all of which I felt really contribute to her characterization. Her affinity to animals is one of my favorite things about her! When you first meet her she has a white bat named Ghost that she saved and healed. IM OBSESSED 🖤🖤
Ryker. Oh Ryker. I loved him from the start. The way this man is described, I immediately pictured characters from the show Vikings (specifically Adam Copeland but maybe that’s just my love for him personally 😏). When we are introduced to Ryker and achieves an amazing feat of killing a dire bear and is honored for doing so. I immediately thought Ollie would hate him when they first meet but that wasn’t necessarily the case. I want to know even more about Ryker, even though we really learn a lot in the book. He struggles with his attraction to Ollie in the first part of the story because he technically has a mate even though they cannot be together - which I found to be very interesting. I LOVE a “fated mate” troupe and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen mates not end up together. With as prevalent as that part of the story is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up again at some point in this series. I don’t want it to for my own selfish reasons but it would definitely make for an interesting plot point 🧐 Ryker is strong, undeniably loyal, and hot as hell 🥵
Violet and Wraith 🖤 Absolutely perfect. I love that Wraith is best friends with Ollie and Ryker but separately, if that makes sense. His magic allows for communication via mind and the dialogue between him and Ollie, and him and Ryker made me chuckle a few times. Violet has such an interesting backstory that I NEED to know more about. We get bits and pieces here and there but, I want to know everything. Really I want to know more about her and Wraith both.
There is romance. There is spice (that’s not overly graphic). This is action. This is sadness. There are amazing friendships and adventures. I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series takes us because we are left on a bit of a cliffhanger! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a fantasy romance.
4.5 stars from me!! MINOR spoilers (kinda) 🤷🏻♀️ just be warned 🖤
I really, really enjoyed Fury and Flame! The author describes this as a dark fantasy romance and I agree. It’s not as dark as I was personally expecting but I enjoy some really DARK, dark romance so that’s not saying much 🙃 It definitely leans more on the romance than the fantasy end for me as the relationships definitely take the front seat through the story. NOT at all in a bad way. The story is told from multiple POVs which really helps you get a more well rounded experience in this world. Hands down, Ryker and Ollie were my favorite characters for very different reasons. I’ll simp for Ryker any day. I could really tell this book was influenced by Norse mythology and culture and that sold me right away! It’s not exact and it’s not historically accurate or anything, but this fantasy world has many interesting aspects. There are a few things that I’m personally still trying to understand in the world and the magic system but I feel as we move through the series more and more will start to fall into place. There are witches, elves, fae, and more!
The story follows Ollie, our FMC, and her animal friends (which she saves throughout the story) ❤️ Ollie is a witch, specifically the future witch queen. She’s confident, fiery, stubborn, strong, brave, and sassy as hell! Personally I love a FMC that isn’t a “damsel in distress” and can really hold her own with no qualms. She is unapologetically herself which I really appreciate. She really goes toe to toe with some of the strong, hard-hitting males and they either respect her or regret their choices in the end. You learn a lot about Ollie through this story and what she has gone through growing up, all of which I felt really contribute to her characterization. Her affinity to animals is one of my favorite things about her! When you first meet her she has a white bat named Ghost that she saved and healed. IM OBSESSED 🖤🖤
Ryker. Oh Ryker. I loved him from the start. The way this man is described, I immediately pictured characters from the show Vikings (specifically Adam Copeland but maybe that’s just my love for him personally 😏). When we are introduced to Ryker and achieves an amazing feat of killing a dire bear and is honored for doing so. I immediately thought Ollie would hate him when they first meet but that wasn’t necessarily the case. I want to know even more about Ryker, even though we really learn a lot in the book. He struggles with his attraction to Ollie in the first part of the story because he technically has a mate even though they cannot be together - which I found to be very interesting. I LOVE a “fated mate” troupe and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen mates not end up together. With as prevalent as that part of the story is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up again at some point in this series. I don’t want it to for my own selfish reasons but it would definitely make for an interesting plot point 🧐 Ryker is strong, undeniably loyal, and hot as hell 🥵
Violet and Wraith 🖤 Absolutely perfect. I love that Wraith is best friends with Ollie and Ryker but separately, if that makes sense. His magic allows for communication via mind and the dialogue between him and Ollie, and him and Ryker made me chuckle a few times. Violet has such an interesting backstory that I NEED to know more about. We get bits and pieces here and there but, I want to know everything. Really I want to know more about her and Wraith both.
There is romance. There is spice (that’s not overly graphic). This is action. This is sadness. There are amazing friendships and adventures. I can’t wait to see where the next book in the series takes us because we are left on a bit of a cliffhanger! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a fantasy romance.
October 31, 2022
3.75 ⭐️ I am very grateful to have received an arc of this book!! I think the concept was very fun and an interesting concept I think I was just left wanting more overall which definitely could be explored in the next book.
Ollie’s is for starters a really cool spunky character!! BUT whole character at the beginning revolves around saving her friend from a disappearance and towards the end it’s barely even mentioned.
Wraith is one of my fav characters - big fan of him!!!
Ryker was kinda meh to me I just wanted more and his stubbornness at the beginning got a lil old
Overall I think it a fun concept and Ollie is super fun I just wanna see more overall world development and character development since those to me fell flat as the book went on
Ollie’s is for starters a really cool spunky character!! BUT whole character at the beginning revolves around saving her friend from a disappearance and towards the end it’s barely even mentioned.
Wraith is one of my fav characters - big fan of him!!!
Ryker was kinda meh to me I just wanted more and his stubbornness at the beginning got a lil old
Overall I think it a fun concept and Ollie is super fun I just wanna see more overall world development and character development since those to me fell flat as the book went on
September 14, 2022
First I want to thank the author for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book.
I loved this book. Truly if you like ACOTAR and FBAA then you will like this book.
The plot flows really well. You never feel stagnant in any part of the book. Things move quickly in the plot and also between the characters.
Speaking of the characters I loved them all. They all felt different from each other so you never felt like you were reading about the same character twice. Ollie is a witch who is very brash and does not care to censor herself. Ryker is an elf warrior who is calmer and is dealing with things from his past. Wraith is a half-blood who has very interesting magic and shows both a fun playful side but also a more serious side. Violet is a fae who is much more timid but we get to see her grow throughout the book which I loved.
There are also so many side characters who are absolutely amazing. Special shoutout to Ollie's animal companions. If anything happens to them in the next book I will riot.
I am excited for the next book. I think the stakes will be much higher for the characters. I also feel like many mysteries will be solved. I am curious to learn more about some of the characters and also more about the mystery group who shows up at the end.
Overall I rated this book 5 stars and would recommend it.
I loved this book. Truly if you like ACOTAR and FBAA then you will like this book.
The plot flows really well. You never feel stagnant in any part of the book. Things move quickly in the plot and also between the characters.
Speaking of the characters I loved them all. They all felt different from each other so you never felt like you were reading about the same character twice. Ollie is a witch who is very brash and does not care to censor herself. Ryker is an elf warrior who is calmer and is dealing with things from his past. Wraith is a half-blood who has very interesting magic and shows both a fun playful side but also a more serious side. Violet is a fae who is much more timid but we get to see her grow throughout the book which I loved.
There are also so many side characters who are absolutely amazing. Special shoutout to Ollie's animal companions. If anything happens to them in the next book I will riot.
I am excited for the next book. I think the stakes will be much higher for the characters. I also feel like many mysteries will be solved. I am curious to learn more about some of the characters and also more about the mystery group who shows up at the end.
Overall I rated this book 5 stars and would recommend it.
September 7, 2022
Rating: 4.5 ✨ for me!
Okay, so first of all, thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity because I loved and devoured this book. This will be a shorter review that my others because I feel like everything I want to say will contain a spoiler. But I want to start with how much I loved our FMC, Ollie. Seriously, she was fearless, sassy and just her personality in general I adored and found hilarious as well. I loved her snarky comments and how brave she could be, a warrior inside and out.
Ryker, I adored as well. A powerful warrior who is a cinnamon roll on the inside and is open (for the most part) about his feelings? I want one, where can I get a Ryker? When will it be my turn??
Wraith, Violet, and I cannot forget my favorites, Loki, Ghost, Valor and Fenrys!! These last four will steal your heart. There's other characters I enjoyed but this review will end up being a book length if I continue. But let me mention King Aeris because I would volunteer as tribute to end up with him, not joking.
This book has fae, elves, witches, jotuns, animal companions, mating bonds, so many things you would enjoy in a book! If you love a badass heroine, this book is for you. If you love vigorous warrior love interest, this book is also for you. If you love a love that could defy all, this book is ALSO for you.
This book also ended with a perfect way to set up the plot for the second book in the series. The world building was also done pretty well and was not overwhelming at all. Pre-order this book when you can! You will not regret it. ♥️
Okay, so first of all, thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity because I loved and devoured this book. This will be a shorter review that my others because I feel like everything I want to say will contain a spoiler. But I want to start with how much I loved our FMC, Ollie. Seriously, she was fearless, sassy and just her personality in general I adored and found hilarious as well. I loved her snarky comments and how brave she could be, a warrior inside and out.
Ryker, I adored as well. A powerful warrior who is a cinnamon roll on the inside and is open (for the most part) about his feelings? I want one, where can I get a Ryker? When will it be my turn??
Wraith, Violet, and I cannot forget my favorites, Loki, Ghost, Valor and Fenrys!! These last four will steal your heart. There's other characters I enjoyed but this review will end up being a book length if I continue. But let me mention King Aeris because I would volunteer as tribute to end up with him, not joking.
This book has fae, elves, witches, jotuns, animal companions, mating bonds, so many things you would enjoy in a book! If you love a badass heroine, this book is for you. If you love vigorous warrior love interest, this book is also for you. If you love a love that could defy all, this book is ALSO for you.
This book also ended with a perfect way to set up the plot for the second book in the series. The world building was also done pretty well and was not overwhelming at all. Pre-order this book when you can! You will not regret it. ♥️
September 15, 2022
((Thank you for the ARC opportunity!))
Grab your favorite pastry, fur baby, and dive into this sassy fantasy novel!
This book follows Ollie on her mission to find her friend that has been kidnapped, a tracker (Ryker) with a tragic past, a shadow prince (Wraith) with secrets, and a mysterious slave (Violet) he rescued! I won't forget to mention- the obstacles, the villains, and THAT CLIFF HANGER!!!
Great read, looking forward to the 2nd book!
Grab your favorite pastry, fur baby, and dive into this sassy fantasy novel!
This book follows Ollie on her mission to find her friend that has been kidnapped, a tracker (Ryker) with a tragic past, a shadow prince (Wraith) with secrets, and a mysterious slave (Violet) he rescued! I won't forget to mention- the obstacles, the villains, and THAT CLIFF HANGER!!!
Great read, looking forward to the 2nd book!
September 5, 2022
I LOVED this book! Ollie is badass, I love her and her companions! I think Ghost is definitely my fave as he’s adorable! Cannot wait for the second book!
September 21, 2022
Thanks to the author for the ARC. I cannot say though, that I am left wanting more out of this series.
The Goodreads description, the book is referred to as a, “high fantasy full of magic, morally grey characters, and mates.” I think that the overall umbrella of the high fantasy sub-genre is pretty vague and would caution going into this book thinking that you are going to experience the detailed world-building and character building similar to that of say Sarah J. Maas. I would definitely say that it leans more fantasy romance rather than epic fantasy.
In regards to the characters being “morally grey,” I never really got any indication that they were neither good nor evil, if anything they were collectively inherently good. As previously stated, the character development is done at a very high level and other than Ollie’s love of animals, it’s really hard to understand what motivates her or any of the other characters, with maybe the exception of Violet, who has obvious motivation towards the end of the book.
At first, I though Ollie was kind of a bad-ass, but as the book went on I really came to be more annoyed by her than anything. Her constant pursuit of Ryker, especially when he seemed to clearly not be interested, was off-putting. I also feel like her group of animals was something that would happen in a YA fantasy book, not an adult fantasy romance. I get that animals are her thing, but after so many, it got old. That being said, I liked the original pet, Ghost.
Though there is a lot of sexual tension, the spice level in this book is a two, at most. Spice in books is something is also subjective to the reader. I feel like Ollie’s and Ryker’s story wasn’t even that captivating. My annoyance for her unrelenting her pursuit of him made me, in a way not even care if they ended up together.
Overall, I think the story lacked a lot of details and development. I just kept wishing that there was more substance to the plot, characters, and storyline in general. It was mediocre at best.
The Goodreads description, the book is referred to as a, “high fantasy full of magic, morally grey characters, and mates.” I think that the overall umbrella of the high fantasy sub-genre is pretty vague and would caution going into this book thinking that you are going to experience the detailed world-building and character building similar to that of say Sarah J. Maas. I would definitely say that it leans more fantasy romance rather than epic fantasy.
In regards to the characters being “morally grey,” I never really got any indication that they were neither good nor evil, if anything they were collectively inherently good. As previously stated, the character development is done at a very high level and other than Ollie’s love of animals, it’s really hard to understand what motivates her or any of the other characters, with maybe the exception of Violet, who has obvious motivation towards the end of the book.
At first, I though Ollie was kind of a bad-ass, but as the book went on I really came to be more annoyed by her than anything. Her constant pursuit of Ryker, especially when he seemed to clearly not be interested, was off-putting. I also feel like her group of animals was something that would happen in a YA fantasy book, not an adult fantasy romance. I get that animals are her thing, but after so many, it got old. That being said, I liked the original pet, Ghost.
Though there is a lot of sexual tension, the spice level in this book is a two, at most. Spice in books is something is also subjective to the reader. I feel like Ollie’s and Ryker’s story wasn’t even that captivating. My annoyance for her unrelenting her pursuit of him made me, in a way not even care if they ended up together.
Overall, I think the story lacked a lot of details and development. I just kept wishing that there was more substance to the plot, characters, and storyline in general. It was mediocre at best.
November 7, 2022
I received an Arc copy of this book, in exchange for my review. I decided to wait on giving my review so that it did not effect the release.
I really had a hard time getting through this book. In the first few chapters, I was convinced that there must have been another book out there with “Scars” and the princess. There was a lot of world building and Character building that I felt was missing. The story wasn’t really driven forward as to the plot that is described. Instead. It featured the inner monologues of Ollie and Ryker. The back and forth between these to was infantile, it felt a lot like middle school. Much of Ollie’s interactions include a level of middle school maturity. Like how she greets “her best friend” with “F*ck off Scars!” Every time she seems him. I forgot about her original best friend that she was searching for by the end of book. Ryker felt flat and the storyline between him and his “Mate” seemed off.
With all that being said; if you removed the mature scenes and some of the language I think that it could be turned into a YA fantasy.
I really had a hard time getting through this book. In the first few chapters, I was convinced that there must have been another book out there with “Scars” and the princess. There was a lot of world building and Character building that I felt was missing. The story wasn’t really driven forward as to the plot that is described. Instead. It featured the inner monologues of Ollie and Ryker. The back and forth between these to was infantile, it felt a lot like middle school. Much of Ollie’s interactions include a level of middle school maturity. Like how she greets “her best friend” with “F*ck off Scars!” Every time she seems him. I forgot about her original best friend that she was searching for by the end of book. Ryker felt flat and the storyline between him and his “Mate” seemed off.
With all that being said; if you removed the mature scenes and some of the language I think that it could be turned into a YA fantasy.
September 26, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book; this was my first book by this author. I will definitely be reading more by this author AND finishing this series! Heat level: 1.5/5 Just be warned now, it's a SUPER slow burn, but the plot was so great! Badass witch as an FMC who loves and has animals for pets AND can fight?! Yes, please! A badass warrior who's got her back as the MMC? Yum. This book has magic, an evil queen, witch hunters, huge ass spiders, Viking culture sprinkled in, elves, and fae. This is more about the story, the sex scenes are just a bonus, but it takes a LONG time to get there. I can't wait for the next one!
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I loved Ollie from the beginning. She is a feisty, strong, potty-mouthed witch who knows how to fight and protect herself and also loves animals. Yes, she starts collecting animals as she keeps saving them, but who wouldn't if they had the money to afford to have so many and loved animals?Not to mention, they all love her because she takes care of them and doesn't abuse them or try to control them with fear. And if you're not a fan of feisty, potty mouthed FMCs, I would recommend you just not read it because Ollie swears often.
Ollie is a sexually empowered woman who goes after who she wants and from the beginning, it's Ryker. She can tell he is physically attracted to her as well and thinks he's playing hard to get but doesn't know why. Really, all she wants at first is some orgasms from the dude and the more he says no, the more she flirts until she's over it. But then, they both start getting feelings for each other. Ryker being a virgin was a surprise because I just assumed he had been laid even though he technically had a mate. His level of guilt and devotion to her is what kept him from having sex with anyone and what makes him rebel against his physical attraction, and then later feelings, for Ollie. If you're not a fan of a FMC who goes after what she wants similar to tons of MMCs, then this isn't the book for you.
There is a plot within a plot which made it even more interesting to read. Ollie's focus, at first, was trying to find her friend who was kidnapped. But, her other focus is also trying to dethrone a tyrannical queen. Her going against her aunt's wishes and going to ally herself with the Shadow Blade and his father is, in her mind, the better move. This queen is the reason her mom is dead so there's a personal element to her wanting to see the evil queen gone. But, she also knows that she is evil and many are scared to oppose her. In my opinion, since she IS the future witch queen, she is trying to gain allies while trying to help someone who shouldn't have the crown to begin with. She's following in her mom's footsteps to rid everyone of her evil. Ollie actively tries to keep doing both and almost dies twice while looking for her friend. When she finds out that Astrid, someone she encounters and saves, was kidnapped the same way her friend was, she tries to find out more about where the kidnappers were taking Astrid. But, when she realizes they have to move against the queen they've been talking about dethroning, she sets her own rescue mission aside for the greater good. Once the threat is eliminated, she focuses on trying to find her friend again.
The cliffhanger perfectly ties together Ollie's attempted rescue of her friend from her potential kidnappers while presenting the new big bad for book 2. I also absolutely loved the tie-ins with Viking culture that the author weaves into her Fantasy world. And if you don't know about their culture, you wouldn't realize what comes from that culture and what has been built by the author. There might not be tons of fighting or super detailed fighting though, tbh, if you're telling me a book is spicy, I would rather have details of the spice and not the fighting. Not to mention, fighting sequences can be difficult to write because if the reader doesn't know the names of certain fighting moves, how else would you describe what's happening? Sometimes the same character may have to roll or spin out of the way more during one fight than another. I also enjoyed how this author built her world and the relationships between characters even if there was tons of backstory we didn't see or need. It's not the usual "here is 50 pages of backstory and information that happened before this part" or "here is all the information you need on the aspects and details of this specific Fantasy universe" and your brain overloads. I would happily ARC the next one of this series! Thank you for the opportunity.
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I loved Ollie from the beginning. She is a feisty, strong, potty-mouthed witch who knows how to fight and protect herself and also loves animals. Yes, she starts collecting animals as she keeps saving them, but who wouldn't if they had the money to afford to have so many and loved animals?Not to mention, they all love her because she takes care of them and doesn't abuse them or try to control them with fear. And if you're not a fan of feisty, potty mouthed FMCs, I would recommend you just not read it because Ollie swears often.
Ollie is a sexually empowered woman who goes after who she wants and from the beginning, it's Ryker. She can tell he is physically attracted to her as well and thinks he's playing hard to get but doesn't know why. Really, all she wants at first is some orgasms from the dude and the more he says no, the more she flirts until she's over it. But then, they both start getting feelings for each other. Ryker being a virgin was a surprise because I just assumed he had been laid even though he technically had a mate. His level of guilt and devotion to her is what kept him from having sex with anyone and what makes him rebel against his physical attraction, and then later feelings, for Ollie. If you're not a fan of a FMC who goes after what she wants similar to tons of MMCs, then this isn't the book for you.
There is a plot within a plot which made it even more interesting to read. Ollie's focus, at first, was trying to find her friend who was kidnapped. But, her other focus is also trying to dethrone a tyrannical queen. Her going against her aunt's wishes and going to ally herself with the Shadow Blade and his father is, in her mind, the better move. This queen is the reason her mom is dead so there's a personal element to her wanting to see the evil queen gone. But, she also knows that she is evil and many are scared to oppose her. In my opinion, since she IS the future witch queen, she is trying to gain allies while trying to help someone who shouldn't have the crown to begin with. She's following in her mom's footsteps to rid everyone of her evil. Ollie actively tries to keep doing both and almost dies twice while looking for her friend. When she finds out that Astrid, someone she encounters and saves, was kidnapped the same way her friend was, she tries to find out more about where the kidnappers were taking Astrid. But, when she realizes they have to move against the queen they've been talking about dethroning, she sets her own rescue mission aside for the greater good. Once the threat is eliminated, she focuses on trying to find her friend again.
The cliffhanger perfectly ties together Ollie's attempted rescue of her friend from her potential kidnappers while presenting the new big bad for book 2. I also absolutely loved the tie-ins with Viking culture that the author weaves into her Fantasy world. And if you don't know about their culture, you wouldn't realize what comes from that culture and what has been built by the author. There might not be tons of fighting or super detailed fighting though, tbh, if you're telling me a book is spicy, I would rather have details of the spice and not the fighting. Not to mention, fighting sequences can be difficult to write because if the reader doesn't know the names of certain fighting moves, how else would you describe what's happening? Sometimes the same character may have to roll or spin out of the way more during one fight than another. I also enjoyed how this author built her world and the relationships between characters even if there was tons of backstory we didn't see or need. It's not the usual "here is 50 pages of backstory and information that happened before this part" or "here is all the information you need on the aspects and details of this specific Fantasy universe" and your brain overloads. I would happily ARC the next one of this series! Thank you for the opportunity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2022
Wow...just wow! This book is very high on my recommendation list! It was such a interesting story to read! H.R. Camarillo has so many things in this book that grabs my attention! Fae, witches, and companion animals! Can't forget that she had spice and some of my favorite tropes!
Ollie is such a driven character! She is a ride or die character, if she's not all in she's not in at all. I love that she thrives to be different and to be her own person! Ryker is a dream man! So calm and driven also! Even with these two be such polar opposites in personalities, they share some very key point personality traits. Main on being that's they'd put friends/family before themselves every single time. I can't forget the soft spot in this story for me and that's Ghost, Loki, Valor, and Fenrys.
Even with the length of this book, there's not a single time is book that you're dragging through. It's so well written and things keep happening! I can't say enough that this book is darn good! Very much a buckle up and be prepared to get sucked in kind book!
Ollie is such a driven character! She is a ride or die character, if she's not all in she's not in at all. I love that she thrives to be different and to be her own person! Ryker is a dream man! So calm and driven also! Even with these two be such polar opposites in personalities, they share some very key point personality traits. Main on being that's they'd put friends/family before themselves every single time. I can't forget the soft spot in this story for me and that's Ghost, Loki, Valor, and Fenrys.
Even with the length of this book, there's not a single time is book that you're dragging through. It's so well written and things keep happening! I can't say enough that this book is darn good! Very much a buckle up and be prepared to get sucked in kind book!
September 17, 2022
Loved it! Can’t wait for the next book!
September 9, 2022
Oh my gosh!! I never expected this book!! It started out as your typical supernatural type story but when you started to meet the different characters it just became more and more intriguing and dynamic, and I couldn’t put the book down!
The relationship between Ollie and Ryker is such a different take from what I’ve read in the past but I love Ollie. She is so fierce and quick witted, and I thrived on every snarky comeback. Also shoutout to her animals. Everyone needs a Ghost!
I personally like Wraith’s character most though. His and Violet’s relationship is just so pure and untouched that it makes me get butterflies. I loved his humor. He’s a great friend and supporter and I am so glad he was included so heavily.
Also the fight scenes definitely kept me on the edge of my seat
Overall 10/10 please read if you like Fantasy/Fae dark romance/ action books! You won’t be disappointed!
The relationship between Ollie and Ryker is such a different take from what I’ve read in the past but I love Ollie. She is so fierce and quick witted, and I thrived on every snarky comeback. Also shoutout to her animals. Everyone needs a Ghost!
I personally like Wraith’s character most though. His and Violet’s relationship is just so pure and untouched that it makes me get butterflies. I loved his humor. He’s a great friend and supporter and I am so glad he was included so heavily.
Also the fight scenes definitely kept me on the edge of my seat
Overall 10/10 please read if you like Fantasy/Fae dark romance/ action books! You won’t be disappointed!
September 3, 2022
This book enraptured me, broke me, and never stopped surprising me. Ollie is the sassy heroine that we all deserve, and her story is so engrossing that I could not put her down! Camarillo has written an absolute bombshell of a debut novel with Fury and Flame, leaving me with the biggest question of all - how long until we can all get our hands on book two?!
Ryker is absolute perfection. Whilst he certainly did have me on the edge of my seat going, "what the hell, man?!" every few pages with his hesitance and "will they/won't they" romance, I could not help but simply adore him. Give me a hulking big Viking man with a heart of gold any day to melt me to my core, and I'll be a happy woman for all days to come. He is certainly one of those characters that will stay in my head and in my heart forever. The romance in this book was *chefs kiss*, with the most amazing level of spice to set fire to my soul.
I adore this book, the incredible setting of the world, and the heart-stopping plot. Camarillo has delivered an action-packed, beautifully written first entry to the Witching Hour series, and I cannot wait to have the entire saga in my hands.
Ryker is absolute perfection. Whilst he certainly did have me on the edge of my seat going, "what the hell, man?!" every few pages with his hesitance and "will they/won't they" romance, I could not help but simply adore him. Give me a hulking big Viking man with a heart of gold any day to melt me to my core, and I'll be a happy woman for all days to come. He is certainly one of those characters that will stay in my head and in my heart forever. The romance in this book was *chefs kiss*, with the most amazing level of spice to set fire to my soul.
I adore this book, the incredible setting of the world, and the heart-stopping plot. Camarillo has delivered an action-packed, beautifully written first entry to the Witching Hour series, and I cannot wait to have the entire saga in my hands.
September 7, 2022
Do you find yourself looking for a new fantasy love story? Hmm? Well, H.R. Camarillo has created this lovely gem! The first in her witching hour series.
It has witches and elves and fae! What more can you ask for?
Oh, something you thought you never needed until he just pops out of the main character's hair. A little white bat! Yes, please!
This character driven book is a slow burn but well worth it.
Did I mention it has a cute little bat?
Get ready for action and of course romance!
I will be rereading this lovely story over and over again until either Ollie decides that she needs this girl on her team or until H. R. Camarillo releases the second in this series!
It has witches and elves and fae! What more can you ask for?
Oh, something you thought you never needed until he just pops out of the main character's hair. A little white bat! Yes, please!
This character driven book is a slow burn but well worth it.
Did I mention it has a cute little bat?
Get ready for action and of course romance!
I will be rereading this lovely story over and over again until either Ollie decides that she needs this girl on her team or until H. R. Camarillo releases the second in this series!
September 8, 2022
Loved it! The story follows Ollie as she fights for those she loves and what she believes in. She is completely relatable, and the other characters all have character progression and growth. Ollie is a witch, and her friends are Fae with their own unique powers. Mentions of “spice” without going too far and being graphic. A strong but easy to follow plot with no plot holes. I don’t like to give spoilers in reviews: but magic, friendship and love abound!
September 6, 2022
Goodness I was honored to be chosen to receive and ARC and this book was amazing. The story hooked me on and I just love Ollie’s love for her companions and those she loves most. I have so many unanswered questions and cannot wait for the next installment for this series!
October 28, 2022
First, I would like to think the author for this ARC copy
This is a review of the book 50% finished, Will update if needed when completed.
Reading on kindle paperwhite
Overall the story theme is wonderful. I love the elements of magic and different beings such as Fae, Witches and more.
I appreciate the idea of a strong female character especially as the main character, however I feel like this character may have been over written as a strong female character. Almost in a cheesy kind of corny way. she’s written to the point of being overly dramatic with her masculinity/toughness. and I’m having a really hard time with the nickname for her love interest.
I feel like parts of the story could be whittled down a little bit, it seems like we circle back to the same story with different points of use over and over again.
I do enjoy the different points of use, especially having both male and female point of use in a story. I appreciate being able to see what’s going on from both vantage points.
I absolutely love that our female main character is so close with animals. Especially her a little bat.
I am hoping that if this is going to continue to be a series book, I am left wanting a little bit more to encourage reading the next books.
I do still look forward to more books from this author, and look forward to watching the author grow in this world expand.
This is a review of the book 50% finished, Will update if needed when completed.
Reading on kindle paperwhite
Overall the story theme is wonderful. I love the elements of magic and different beings such as Fae, Witches and more.
I appreciate the idea of a strong female character especially as the main character, however I feel like this character may have been over written as a strong female character. Almost in a cheesy kind of corny way. she’s written to the point of being overly dramatic with her masculinity/toughness. and I’m having a really hard time with the nickname for her love interest.
I feel like parts of the story could be whittled down a little bit, it seems like we circle back to the same story with different points of use over and over again.
I do enjoy the different points of use, especially having both male and female point of use in a story. I appreciate being able to see what’s going on from both vantage points.
I absolutely love that our female main character is so close with animals. Especially her a little bat.
I am hoping that if this is going to continue to be a series book, I am left wanting a little bit more to encourage reading the next books.
I do still look forward to more books from this author, and look forward to watching the author grow in this world expand.
January 22, 2023
Overall a 3.5
I love complex characters and appreciated that Ollie was a bit annoying and over the top; it made her more believable despite cringing at her a few times. She didn't have a huge character arc, but I wouldn't expect that from her because she was true to herself from beginning to end. At first I wasn't crazy about the animals, but that part did grow on me. Her gratuitous language didn't bother me necessarily, but sometimes it felt that was the only thread keeping the book from being staunchly YA.
Ryker was a solid love interest and I liked his intro, his backstory, and his hot and cold with Ollie. I'm a sucker for a slow burn and messy romance, and the twist on fated mates was primo. My only beef with Ryker was the virgin thing--it's just not for me when reading romance, but I know that's just my take. I could tell he had been written by a woman, also, because he was a little overdone as a nice guy. This isn't a bad thing, but did pull me out of the book a bit with some of their exchanges.
Aeris needed more for him to make sense, and for a spin-off novella. I didn't have a good understanding of his dynamic and wasn't sure if him being her friend's dad should be hot or icky. It's a fine line that could have used more development.
Loved Wraith and Violet, however. They were excellent characters and I appreciated that Ollie wasn't the savior in the story, but Violet was. If anything, she could have used more to help thicken the plot. Unfortunately Arienne was forgettable, and Astrid and Thorin weren't much better (though I appreciated their roles).
Which brings me to my true reason for the reduced rating--the plot. Ollie had set off to find Calla, but that quickly became an afterthought. The direction of the story really got lost in the first half, with several sub-plots taking place. I appreciated what they did for Ryker and Ollie's development, but not for the actual story. If it was intended to be character driven, this would've been great real estate to give more on Cressida and WHY we hate her, Violet, Aeris, and Ravina. All of those characters needed more to their story to raise the stakes. What happened to Calla and how did Ollie get so distracted from her original mission? Obviously Ryker, but the direction meandered too much for me. It should have centered around her or Cressida, not both, because the competing issues made them both feel like afterthoughts.
The magic was decent, but hard to follow at times. I echo some of the reviews that the world-building left something to desire. I could deduce some of it, but I really wanted to be invested in why Cressida was bad and what the risk was in leaving her on the throne. What does a witch queen mean? How do these species interact? The sub-cultures were great with the way the characters interacted, but I wanted more layers. I wish there had been more woven into the beginning to help build the doom associated with Cressida, and possibly Ravina, and to make Violet's background more of a bang. Also, her dad? Where did that come from? And why was it over so quickly? Any true, juicy conflict was resolved in a few pages, but I genuinely loved Fenrys and how he came to be Ollie's. Like- the story was there, but it needed fewer distractions and more build.
Long story short (literally), I wanted more on the actual plot and Ollie's stakes, and less on the side-stories. I will say, the battle scene was one of my favorite parts and the multiple POVs were well done. The characters kept me going, however, and I never lost interest in the book. I would give the novella and book 2 a chance, if nothing else but the hope that some of the issues mentioned about would be fleshed out.
I love complex characters and appreciated that Ollie was a bit annoying and over the top; it made her more believable despite cringing at her a few times. She didn't have a huge character arc, but I wouldn't expect that from her because she was true to herself from beginning to end. At first I wasn't crazy about the animals, but that part did grow on me. Her gratuitous language didn't bother me necessarily, but sometimes it felt that was the only thread keeping the book from being staunchly YA.
Ryker was a solid love interest and I liked his intro, his backstory, and his hot and cold with Ollie. I'm a sucker for a slow burn and messy romance, and the twist on fated mates was primo. My only beef with Ryker was the virgin thing--it's just not for me when reading romance, but I know that's just my take. I could tell he had been written by a woman, also, because he was a little overdone as a nice guy. This isn't a bad thing, but did pull me out of the book a bit with some of their exchanges.
Aeris needed more for him to make sense, and for a spin-off novella. I didn't have a good understanding of his dynamic and wasn't sure if him being her friend's dad should be hot or icky. It's a fine line that could have used more development.
Loved Wraith and Violet, however. They were excellent characters and I appreciated that Ollie wasn't the savior in the story, but Violet was. If anything, she could have used more to help thicken the plot. Unfortunately Arienne was forgettable, and Astrid and Thorin weren't much better (though I appreciated their roles).
Which brings me to my true reason for the reduced rating--the plot. Ollie had set off to find Calla, but that quickly became an afterthought. The direction of the story really got lost in the first half, with several sub-plots taking place. I appreciated what they did for Ryker and Ollie's development, but not for the actual story. If it was intended to be character driven, this would've been great real estate to give more on Cressida and WHY we hate her, Violet, Aeris, and Ravina. All of those characters needed more to their story to raise the stakes. What happened to Calla and how did Ollie get so distracted from her original mission? Obviously Ryker, but the direction meandered too much for me. It should have centered around her or Cressida, not both, because the competing issues made them both feel like afterthoughts.
The magic was decent, but hard to follow at times. I echo some of the reviews that the world-building left something to desire. I could deduce some of it, but I really wanted to be invested in why Cressida was bad and what the risk was in leaving her on the throne. What does a witch queen mean? How do these species interact? The sub-cultures were great with the way the characters interacted, but I wanted more layers. I wish there had been more woven into the beginning to help build the doom associated with Cressida, and possibly Ravina, and to make Violet's background more of a bang. Also, her dad? Where did that come from? And why was it over so quickly? Any true, juicy conflict was resolved in a few pages, but I genuinely loved Fenrys and how he came to be Ollie's. Like- the story was there, but it needed fewer distractions and more build.
Long story short (literally), I wanted more on the actual plot and Ollie's stakes, and less on the side-stories. I will say, the battle scene was one of my favorite parts and the multiple POVs were well done. The characters kept me going, however, and I never lost interest in the book. I would give the novella and book 2 a chance, if nothing else but the hope that some of the issues mentioned about would be fleshed out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2022
*I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Fury and Flame by H.R. Camarillo in exchange for an honest review*
I want to say how kind Hailie is. I wanted to read an ARC of this book so bad that even though her signups for the ARC were closed, she still sent me an ARC. I know she did not have to, and I truly appreciate the kind gesture.
With that being said, I really enjoyed this book like I thought I would. I know that this book is being shown as a dark romance/dark fantasy romance and it does have its moments but is not as “dark” as I was expecting. Nothing wrong with that I really enjoy regular fantasy and dark fantasy so either way I was still happy with how the story went.
Ollie is our Female Main Character (FMC). She is a witch in line for the throne and has a love of animals and a heavy heart when she lost her friend who was kidnapped. Ollie is also extremely outspoken, says what she wants, and does not take crap from anyone. While those are great and amazing qualities, I do have to say that Ollie did annoy me in the first half of the book because I felt that she was TOO assertive. There’s only so much that you can do to someone that doesn’t want anything romantic with you before it becomes too much. At least to me. As the story goes on, we actually see a different side of her where she starts to tone down and becomes genuinely likeable when she shows a side of herself that allows her to be real and vulnerable. I really enjoy that side of her.
Ryker is our Male Main Character (MMC) and is a tracker with a rough past who is friends with Prince Wraith who is also friends with Ollie. Ryker is also a mated male. However, he said goodbye to his mate over twenty years ago to save her. Ever since, Ryker has been refusing to let go of his mate and refusing to be happy. That is, until a brazen, wild witch shows up in his life that he cannot stop thinking about.
This is also my first story where there is an animal companion let alone multiple, I have to say that it was different to me in that aspect, but I did enjoy her little bat, Ghost.
The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I did have a hard time “believing” how easily Ryker was able to forget his “mate” he’s been pining over losing for twenty plus years and was so easily able to say that he couldn’t survive without Ollie in his life or that he had to have her and save her. That was unbelievable to me because it seemed like a drastic switch but other than that I really enjoyed this story.
Magic, witches, animal companions, revenge, antagonist to lovers, brazen outspoken women, and slow burn are your thing then you need to check out Fury and Flame. Be warned, book one ends on a cliffhanger!
I want to say how kind Hailie is. I wanted to read an ARC of this book so bad that even though her signups for the ARC were closed, she still sent me an ARC. I know she did not have to, and I truly appreciate the kind gesture.
With that being said, I really enjoyed this book like I thought I would. I know that this book is being shown as a dark romance/dark fantasy romance and it does have its moments but is not as “dark” as I was expecting. Nothing wrong with that I really enjoy regular fantasy and dark fantasy so either way I was still happy with how the story went.
Ollie is our Female Main Character (FMC). She is a witch in line for the throne and has a love of animals and a heavy heart when she lost her friend who was kidnapped. Ollie is also extremely outspoken, says what she wants, and does not take crap from anyone. While those are great and amazing qualities, I do have to say that Ollie did annoy me in the first half of the book because I felt that she was TOO assertive. There’s only so much that you can do to someone that doesn’t want anything romantic with you before it becomes too much. At least to me. As the story goes on, we actually see a different side of her where she starts to tone down and becomes genuinely likeable when she shows a side of herself that allows her to be real and vulnerable. I really enjoy that side of her.
Ryker is our Male Main Character (MMC) and is a tracker with a rough past who is friends with Prince Wraith who is also friends with Ollie. Ryker is also a mated male. However, he said goodbye to his mate over twenty years ago to save her. Ever since, Ryker has been refusing to let go of his mate and refusing to be happy. That is, until a brazen, wild witch shows up in his life that he cannot stop thinking about.
This is also my first story where there is an animal companion let alone multiple, I have to say that it was different to me in that aspect, but I did enjoy her little bat, Ghost.
The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I did have a hard time “believing” how easily Ryker was able to forget his “mate” he’s been pining over losing for twenty plus years and was so easily able to say that he couldn’t survive without Ollie in his life or that he had to have her and save her. That was unbelievable to me because it seemed like a drastic switch but other than that I really enjoyed this story.
Magic, witches, animal companions, revenge, antagonist to lovers, brazen outspoken women, and slow burn are your thing then you need to check out Fury and Flame. Be warned, book one ends on a cliffhanger!
September 27, 2022
First I would like to thank the author for allowing me to ARC this story. I appreciate the effort it takes to put out a piece of work, especially one of the fantasy genre.
To start with the positive, the female main character (fmc) was well developed and thought out. The author created a really unique protagonist with a larger than life personality that made for interesting dialogue and character development. She was great to read about.
There were many cool ideas placed throughout the story. I loved the references to viking folklore. The fighting sequences were well placed and choreographed, and they were exciting to read.
There were funny instances with fun banter between characters which highlighted the different dynamics within relationships, which made for a more interesting read.
I would rate the spice level at maybe a 2. Basically the plot would hold without the spice.
Now for the negative. All the other characters, I felt, were two dimensional and predictable, including the villains. I did not care for any of them, even the male main character and love interest.
I also took issue with the pacing of the story. I felt that the author could have described the world she created better and with more detail. Things were explained rather abruptly which left little to mystery or imagination. This is major reason why I lost interest. I felt that there were a lot of gaps in the world and storyline that just lost me.
Although there were a lot of good ideas, there is so much happening in this story that it became confusing and difficult to put everything together. The plot would benefit from streamlining of ideas and subplots.
The dialogue and story can get super repetetive as well. Not just in characters referencing what was said previous, but they repeat similar dialogue for several chapters...
Over all, I will not be continuing with this series, although I did recommend it to a friend who I know enjoys the genre and would like the fmc. I think the fmc really brings a lot of the story to life, and generally speaking, I see this book doing well.
To start with the positive, the female main character (fmc) was well developed and thought out. The author created a really unique protagonist with a larger than life personality that made for interesting dialogue and character development. She was great to read about.
There were many cool ideas placed throughout the story. I loved the references to viking folklore. The fighting sequences were well placed and choreographed, and they were exciting to read.
There were funny instances with fun banter between characters which highlighted the different dynamics within relationships, which made for a more interesting read.
I would rate the spice level at maybe a 2. Basically the plot would hold without the spice.
Now for the negative. All the other characters, I felt, were two dimensional and predictable, including the villains. I did not care for any of them, even the male main character and love interest.
I also took issue with the pacing of the story. I felt that the author could have described the world she created better and with more detail. Things were explained rather abruptly which left little to mystery or imagination. This is major reason why I lost interest. I felt that there were a lot of gaps in the world and storyline that just lost me.
Although there were a lot of good ideas, there is so much happening in this story that it became confusing and difficult to put everything together. The plot would benefit from streamlining of ideas and subplots.
The dialogue and story can get super repetetive as well. Not just in characters referencing what was said previous, but they repeat similar dialogue for several chapters...
Over all, I will not be continuing with this series, although I did recommend it to a friend who I know enjoys the genre and would like the fmc. I think the fmc really brings a lot of the story to life, and generally speaking, I see this book doing well.
October 13, 2022
I received an ARC of this book. I give it 4 stars, but I hope you’ll read to know why.
This was a great book. I feel like Ollie is a very realistic character. I didn’t always agree with her or how she handled things, but I just couldn’t help but love her through it all. I loved to see the relationships she built throughout the story. I will definitely read the next book to see what happens next.
Here are a few things I think you should know, and why I didn’t give the book a final star:
•It is clear that this is an early work. Please keep this in mind. I expect to see some truly amazing works down the line, I mean possibly Rowling or Maas level eventually, but do not expect that here.
•World building is lacking. Again, I chalk this up to an early work. I still don’t feel as if I know much about the world I was just in. Most of what I imagined fed from other fantasies I’ve read. Her descriptiveness of what she did explain was done well, but most things seem to be assumed. I hope that she takes the time in future books to further explain the world and the creatures who call it home.
•Pace. The pace of the story was a bit all over the place. It seemed that in the beginning, she was in such a hurry to start doing things that we missed an introduction into this new world. Then once we got partially there, things hit a stall for a while. It seemed that nothing would happen and then all at once the action came and went and the book wrapped up. I’d like to have seen this book drawn out into two, maybe three books ideally. I have confidence she will find a good pace with experience.
•This reads as a ROMANCE. Which is what she says it is. This is one reason that I didn’t deduct further for the things I’ve mentioned. This is not a fantasy novel full of action and romance, it is a romance novel with fantasy and mild action. Do not expect some massive plot. It is about a girl and a boy and their friends.
All of this said, I do recommend the read. It’s a nice read, kept me interested, and I’ll be back for more.
This was a great book. I feel like Ollie is a very realistic character. I didn’t always agree with her or how she handled things, but I just couldn’t help but love her through it all. I loved to see the relationships she built throughout the story. I will definitely read the next book to see what happens next.
Here are a few things I think you should know, and why I didn’t give the book a final star:
•It is clear that this is an early work. Please keep this in mind. I expect to see some truly amazing works down the line, I mean possibly Rowling or Maas level eventually, but do not expect that here.
•World building is lacking. Again, I chalk this up to an early work. I still don’t feel as if I know much about the world I was just in. Most of what I imagined fed from other fantasies I’ve read. Her descriptiveness of what she did explain was done well, but most things seem to be assumed. I hope that she takes the time in future books to further explain the world and the creatures who call it home.
•Pace. The pace of the story was a bit all over the place. It seemed that in the beginning, she was in such a hurry to start doing things that we missed an introduction into this new world. Then once we got partially there, things hit a stall for a while. It seemed that nothing would happen and then all at once the action came and went and the book wrapped up. I’d like to have seen this book drawn out into two, maybe three books ideally. I have confidence she will find a good pace with experience.
•This reads as a ROMANCE. Which is what she says it is. This is one reason that I didn’t deduct further for the things I’ve mentioned. This is not a fantasy novel full of action and romance, it is a romance novel with fantasy and mild action. Do not expect some massive plot. It is about a girl and a boy and their friends.
All of this said, I do recommend the read. It’s a nice read, kept me interested, and I’ll be back for more.
October 31, 2022
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book!
Fury and Flame is a fantasy romance set in Nessaria, where the evil Fae Queen Cressida has put a bounty on hunting witches and citizens from all over the realm are disappearing at random. The story primarily follows Ollie, the future witch queen and all-around spitfire, and an Elven General, Ryker, who both stand opposed to Cressida. The book also has a substantial subplot featuring Wraith, the Shadow Blade, and his mate, Violet, the true heir to the throne Cressida currently occupies.
I enjoyed the central plot of the book (overthrowing Cressida), the romance as it brewed between Ryker and Ollie, and the detailed world-building. All of these made the reading enjoyable, as I wanted to learn more about the kingdom of Nessaria and the various magics and skills of the different people and races that lived there, as well as see Ryker and Ollie fall in love. My only quibble is that I do think the book reads as a debut novel, though I look forward to reading more by Camarillo as her writing capabilities mature. There were some issues with pacing; the story oscillates between painfully slow-paced yearning romance and/or exposition and then very fast-paced, with major events happening one right after the other without so much as a page of breathing room. I also thought the diction could have been refined a bit further to improve the overall readability of the book. But, ultimately, this was a fun little fantasy and I wouldn't say no to reading the next book in the series.
Fury and Flame is a fantasy romance set in Nessaria, where the evil Fae Queen Cressida has put a bounty on hunting witches and citizens from all over the realm are disappearing at random. The story primarily follows Ollie, the future witch queen and all-around spitfire, and an Elven General, Ryker, who both stand opposed to Cressida. The book also has a substantial subplot featuring Wraith, the Shadow Blade, and his mate, Violet, the true heir to the throne Cressida currently occupies.
I enjoyed the central plot of the book (overthrowing Cressida), the romance as it brewed between Ryker and Ollie, and the detailed world-building. All of these made the reading enjoyable, as I wanted to learn more about the kingdom of Nessaria and the various magics and skills of the different people and races that lived there, as well as see Ryker and Ollie fall in love. My only quibble is that I do think the book reads as a debut novel, though I look forward to reading more by Camarillo as her writing capabilities mature. There were some issues with pacing; the story oscillates between painfully slow-paced yearning romance and/or exposition and then very fast-paced, with major events happening one right after the other without so much as a page of breathing room. I also thought the diction could have been refined a bit further to improve the overall readability of the book. But, ultimately, this was a fun little fantasy and I wouldn't say no to reading the next book in the series.
September 16, 2022
First off I want to thank the author for trusting me with an ARC of her book.
It was a very enjoyable read,with both sad and fun parts. Don't let me even start on the mfc, I loved her since the first page, fierce, badass, sassy, Ollie I stan you!🙌
This is the first book in a series, overall it was a great start. If you like stories with fae, elves, a badass mfc, animals, evil queens, a cute romance and friendships that will fill your heart than you would want to jump straight into this one.
As for the spice, there is romance but it's not graphic or highly explicit, it's a cute one since the mc is a cinnamon roll.
The worldbuilding is nicely developed, you can easyly picture it in your mind without getting confused, simple and clean>>>intricate and confusing.
We get multipovs as well as a looot of character interactions, for this reason the story seemed a little bit dragged, I found that some parts were not necessary for the story and didn't add anything special, but were enjoyable nontheless.
Apart from Ollie who has a special place in my heart, I found that some charactes were lacking in personality, I would have liked a developement of the history for certain of them, a background story just to understand them better.
The book ends on a cliffhanger that will make you want to read the next one to see how the story continues.
3,5✨
It was a very enjoyable read,with both sad and fun parts. Don't let me even start on the mfc, I loved her since the first page, fierce, badass, sassy, Ollie I stan you!🙌
This is the first book in a series, overall it was a great start. If you like stories with fae, elves, a badass mfc, animals, evil queens, a cute romance and friendships that will fill your heart than you would want to jump straight into this one.
As for the spice, there is romance but it's not graphic or highly explicit, it's a cute one since the mc is a cinnamon roll.
The worldbuilding is nicely developed, you can easyly picture it in your mind without getting confused, simple and clean>>>intricate and confusing.
We get multipovs as well as a looot of character interactions, for this reason the story seemed a little bit dragged, I found that some parts were not necessary for the story and didn't add anything special, but were enjoyable nontheless.
Apart from Ollie who has a special place in my heart, I found that some charactes were lacking in personality, I would have liked a developement of the history for certain of them, a background story just to understand them better.
The book ends on a cliffhanger that will make you want to read the next one to see how the story continues.
3,5✨
September 30, 2022
Okay, so this was my first ever ARC read and review, and I first want to say thank you for the opportunity! I was so excited to read this book. I'd give it a 4.5 star rating, but I think once the story continues it's just going to get better!
The amount of tension and spice was nice, the scenes were not overly descriptive but still 🔥
I feel like all the couples had such sweet relationships, the kind that just make you swoon.
I totally love Ollie and Ryker's dynamic and how they are with each other and also her friendship with Wraith. Definitely some good LOL moments with all the witty banter between them.
This story is filled with a wide blend of beings and it's great! You get witches, Fae of all kind and elves.
The plot was interesting and kept me intrigued with what was going to happen next.
The writing quality was really great, well paced, everything blended together nicely and the reading was easy and smooth.
I loved all the characters, along with the magic system.
The story concept keeps you hooked and did leave us on a tiny cliffhanger but it makes me excited to see what happens next!! Can't wait to see these characters/relationships grow and how the story will evolve.
Overall I enjoyed everything about this book and would definitely recommend giving Fury and Flame a read!
The amount of tension and spice was nice, the scenes were not overly descriptive but still 🔥
I feel like all the couples had such sweet relationships, the kind that just make you swoon.
I totally love Ollie and Ryker's dynamic and how they are with each other and also her friendship with Wraith. Definitely some good LOL moments with all the witty banter between them.
This story is filled with a wide blend of beings and it's great! You get witches, Fae of all kind and elves.
The plot was interesting and kept me intrigued with what was going to happen next.
The writing quality was really great, well paced, everything blended together nicely and the reading was easy and smooth.
I loved all the characters, along with the magic system.
The story concept keeps you hooked and did leave us on a tiny cliffhanger but it makes me excited to see what happens next!! Can't wait to see these characters/relationships grow and how the story will evolve.
Overall I enjoyed everything about this book and would definitely recommend giving Fury and Flame a read!
October 14, 2022
Title: Fury and Flame
Author: H.R Camarillo
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Slow burn, antagonist to lovers, soulmates
Release Date: October 31st, 2022
First I want to thank the author for this opportunity to read and review her ARC. So glad to be apart of this arc team!
Do you love a badass FMC who knows what she wants and goes after it? Sexual tension? SLOW BURN? Antagonist to lovers? Animal companions?
If so this book is for you. Ollie is a witch and she knows how to fight and take care of herself and with the mouth of a sailor. Ghost her bath is my absolute favorite. She also has a band of animals she saves and grows to love. Though when her friend goes missing she teams up with Ryker a tracker with a tragic past, and the sexual tension between them is chefs kiss! She wants him and she lets it be known but he of course is resistant at first because of his past. Her other mission?.. dethrone the Queen who’s responsible for her mothers death.
Join Ollie and her companions on this journey. You won’t be disappointed! That CLIFFHANGER at the end. WHEW I cannot wait for book 2! Of course I’d love to be considered for an ARC of that one as well!
Author: H.R Camarillo
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Slow burn, antagonist to lovers, soulmates
Release Date: October 31st, 2022
First I want to thank the author for this opportunity to read and review her ARC. So glad to be apart of this arc team!
Do you love a badass FMC who knows what she wants and goes after it? Sexual tension? SLOW BURN? Antagonist to lovers? Animal companions?
If so this book is for you. Ollie is a witch and she knows how to fight and take care of herself and with the mouth of a sailor. Ghost her bath is my absolute favorite. She also has a band of animals she saves and grows to love. Though when her friend goes missing she teams up with Ryker a tracker with a tragic past, and the sexual tension between them is chefs kiss! She wants him and she lets it be known but he of course is resistant at first because of his past. Her other mission?.. dethrone the Queen who’s responsible for her mothers death.
Join Ollie and her companions on this journey. You won’t be disappointed! That CLIFFHANGER at the end. WHEW I cannot wait for book 2! Of course I’d love to be considered for an ARC of that one as well!
October 31, 2022
Fury and Flame was an overall good read for me, I enjoyed the plot and the overall story line. There were many nods towards the Norse and that is something you don't see enough in books in my opinion. The story was cohesive and unlike some other multi- point of view books, I was able to follow the story from each character and not get thrown by the switch. The main character Ollie gave me major Manon from Throne of Glass vibes, she is badass, fierce and unapologetic but at the same time she is also kind and good natured at heart. If there is one thing that kept me from giving this a full five stars it was the overuse of nicknames in the dialogue. I am all for fun and endearing nicknames but I felt like these were overused. The constant use of these nicknames started to pull me out of the story because they started to feel forced and unnecessary, and at times I cringed internally at the overuse and a few of the nicknames themselves. But other than that this truly was a good read and I look forward to reading more of her work.
September 21, 2022
Thank you, H R Camarillo for the ARC! I sincerely appreciate it!
This story is full of imagination, fantasy, and characters that have the potential to make you feel something, but the development just isn’t quite there…yet! Potential certainly is though!
If you enjoy stories where you are told exactly what a character is thinking and feeling, this is the story for you. On the flip side, if you enjoy a “show don’t tell” type of writing style, then I would steer clear.
The world building is intriguing and the bones of the story are sturdy, I just wished there was a bit more…just more. I want to feel the characters feelings, not be told them, and I want to see development of feelings rather than be told they exist over and over.
I think the foundation is here for something potentially wonderful!
This story is full of imagination, fantasy, and characters that have the potential to make you feel something, but the development just isn’t quite there…yet! Potential certainly is though!
If you enjoy stories where you are told exactly what a character is thinking and feeling, this is the story for you. On the flip side, if you enjoy a “show don’t tell” type of writing style, then I would steer clear.
The world building is intriguing and the bones of the story are sturdy, I just wished there was a bit more…just more. I want to feel the characters feelings, not be told them, and I want to see development of feelings rather than be told they exist over and over.
I think the foundation is here for something potentially wonderful!
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