As it's been happening with most of the books in this series, I'm of two minds about "Smoldering Ember". On the one hand, as I already commented in previous reviews, I find the writing style and the plot difficult to follow. I actually think that the writing style has improved lately. But I have trouble identifying which of the many details Lyhne includes in the book are really relevant to the story. If I had to define the book in one sentence, "horror vacui" comes to mind; there is too much stuff narrated that seems anecdotal, and I don't seem to be able to identify its function regarding the plot. What is essential, and what is just adding too much for basic characterisation? To be sure, sometimes it looks like it's a minute-by-minute play of a day of festivities, for instance. The fact that so much going on hinges on dialogue (narrative descriptions are almost absent) furthers this feeling for the reader even more.
On the other hand, I truly find the background story fascinating - even when drowning in so much detail. Despite my reservations, I keep reading the books when released, and that's the best review I can offer. I enjoy so much the folklore, the break-away from established topics in M/M books, the originality... The book, and the series as a whole, has definitely something. However, I have to confess that, at the time I write this review, I haven't yet finished "Smoldering Ember"; that feeling of constriction and a lack of a clean, discernible line forward means that I have to read a chapter at a time at the most - I get tired quickly as question after question keeps popping in my mind. I'm posting this review because I received an ARC and today's deadline, and I don't want just to shelve it; I like it too much for that. I will finish it eventually: I'm already too invested in the series to drop it now - and that's a significant accomplishment by the author, given my criticism. But at the moment, this is all I can offer.
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest opinion.