I very much enjoyed this series. I liked how each book involved a member of a different magical family from Thistle Grove, and that it went deep into the backstories of each family and why Thistle Grove (a highly magical town in a mostly mundane world) exists at all. Nina’s book (Back in a Spell, book 3) was my favorite, but Rise and Divine was a close second. This was the perfect wrap-up to the series!

I just adore Lana Harper and this series, and this was the 5th book, which centers around the small fictional town of Thistle Grove.

This was the final installment in The Witches of Thistle Grove series, which was magical and swoony, and full of great characters that pulled me into the story once again.

The story features Dasha Avramov who is a devil eater who travels the veil to extinguish demons.

I loved the audio so much and would recommend both formats.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, prh audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

**3.5-stars**

Rise and Divine is the 5th-book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series. This is an Adult Romance series all set in the quaint town of Thistle Grove, where witch families can live and pursue their various passions and gifts. For those unfamiliar with the series, the books are all companion novels. They take place in the same small town, following the same timeline, but each book focuses on different main characters.

In this installment, we're following Dasha Avramov and Ivy Thorn. For those familiar with this series, you'll definitely recognize these names, and if you're not, it doesn't matter, you can still read this book and enjoy the story.

Dasha is a special kind of witch. She's what's known as a devil eater, which means she has a very rare ability that allows her to banish demons and traverse the veil. It's also on of the most dangerous affinities. Since the loss of her parents, Dasha finds herself, in her grief, more and more curious about what lies beyond the veil; in a very unhealthy way.

She's also been isolating herself from family, friends and as much as she can, the rest of the community. All that's about to change though, when she is forced to work with her old flame, Ivy Thorn, to plan an upcoming local festival. The tension is high between the two, but it's obvious a spark is still smoldering. Their work forces them into contact, but that work on the festival starts to pale in comparison to the teamwork needed to defeat the otherworldly force suddenly focused on their town.

Through these treacherous circumstances, the two women start to open up to one another, and trust another once again, but will it be enough to make this second-chance romance a success?

I'm going to be brutally honest for a minute; wild, I know. I haven't been blown away by any of the books in this series. Sometimes, I wonder why I am continuing with it at all. They've all been a bit mediocre for me, but with this being said, every time I see a new one announced, I get excited to see what characters it will follow and what the basic plot will be. Also, the cover art. I always love it.

So, at the end of the day, while I wouldn't say this is necessarily a series that will blow your hair back, there's still something so cozy and relaxing about returning to Thistle Grove. Each book brings something new and examines romantic relationships in a different way.

I liked the second-chance romance element. To me, it seemed unlikely Dasha would be able to give Ivy what she needs in the long run, but I'll let you read it and decide for yourself whether or not that's true. I did really enjoy the darker elements in this one. The threat to the town felt real. I liked how brave the women were in taking that on; particularly, Dasha.

Yeah, if there's another book, I'm game. I like this town. I think it is fun to see where each new book is going to go. Do I think they're the most memorable romances in the world? No, but also, I'm still here for what they are.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I always appreciate it!

I was sad that this was the end of the series, but I am so glad that I got to enjoy the entire thing. I cannot wait to see what Lana Harper publishes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Rise and Divine by Lana Harper!

This whole series is so good I absolutely ate it up. The world building in this is very organic and easy to follow while also being super fun!

In the fifth (and final?) book of the series, Dasha must use her ability as a devil eater (rare, even for a necromancer) to banish demons that appear in Thistle Grove. Why are there so many now and during Cavalcade? Is it connected to the founding of Thistle Grove? At the same time Dasha is trying to get back into the good graces of Ivy (Dasha broke her heart). But Ivy isn’t sure about them being together again. They work together though to save their town from whatever keeps trying to cross the Veil and invade Thistle Grove. This was a a well planned out series that moved the story on and kept bringing forward characters that started in the background of the first book and moved them to the front.

I love this series and I was thrilled with this book as its conclusion. It was as sweet and cute and full of heart as its predecessors, and I will miss Thistle Grove, now that it is over.

I’ve really enjoyed this witchy, autumnal series a lot (after having read 3 of the 5 books!) I love the setting of Thistle Grove and the way each family has their own magical specialty while still leaving room for individuality.

In RISE AND DIVINE, we follow Daria “Dasha” Avramov, a devil eater who can travel through the veil and vanquish demons. Dasha struggles against the seductive powers of the Other Side, which recently led to her breakup with the incomparable Ivy Thorn. Can Dasha master herself enough to win back the love of her life AND defeat the otherworldly being threatening her home?

The explorations of grief and addiction were well done and created an interesting lens through which to learn about Dasha as our protagonist. That element was definitely the most compelling for me.

In regard to Dasha and Ivy: second chance romances are something I enjoy, but I do find that to really sell them, I need to be invested in both who the couple was before and who they are now. I felt like I could almost see that, but the “before” wasn’t as clear as I would’ve liked.

I also found that the Big Bad in this was a little bit… anti-climactic? Everything worked out a little too perfectly. Maybe I needed to see a bit more struggle there! (And maybe even on the relationship front too?!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

Her books are just a must read for me and this was so much fun! Thistle Grove has become one of my favorite fictional towns and I love revisiting it every year and getting a new story!
Thank you #NetGalley and #berkely for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

a super cute romance from the queen of sapphic witch lit! This book was everything I wanted in a cozy autumn read. the characters' chemistry was palpable, and the plot was riveting.

This series is just magical! I love the writing style, the town, the characters, everything! I could not get enough of this story, and I was hanging on for more each chapter!

This story revolves around Daria “Dasha” Avramov, a witch with a unique ability to banish demons and traverse the veil between worlds and Ivy Thorn.
Still Haunted by the loss of her parents and a painful breakup with Ivy Thorn, Dasha is both fiery and guarded.
But when she and Ivy are forced to work a festival,together some old sparks reignite amidst an otherworldly threat that could destroy Thistle Grove.
The romance that develops between Dasha and Ivy is sweet and passionate, while the relationships Dasha has with her family and other characters add depth and resonance to the story
The book also explores themes of grief, depression, and self-destructive behavior,
Rise and Divine is a fitting and satisfying end to a beloved series, leaving readers both enchanted and a little sad to say goodbye to Thistle Grove

Goodbye witches of Thistle Grove and thank you for a magical adventure! A must read series for witches and normies alike (:

A magical romantic comedy in a witchy small town full of powerful witches including necromancers, devil eaters, demon summoners and more.

Rise and Divine is the 5th and final book of Lana Harper's The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I have enjoyed this series and my time spent in the magical town of Thistle Grove with all of its witchy inhabitants.

This book follows Dasha who is both a Harlowe and an Amarov. She is a death eater who can also move on the other side of the Veil and struggles with the affinity for darkness and death within her.
This book was a bit darker (and spicer) than the others in the series but it made for a fitting finale with all the themes of light and dark, life and death and love.

Dasha and Ivy are a very light versus dark couple and I found that I was rooting for them and really felt like they helped balance each other out. I was a bit more into the overall storyline than I was the actual romance but given this was the final book, it had a lot to cover plot wise so not was definitely more front and center.

Loved seeing characters from all the families (and previous books) joining us in this final one for a fond farewell.

"Rise and Divine" by Lana Harper is a captivating blend of magic, romance, and self-discovery that draws readers into its enchanting world. The richly developed characters and their intricate relationships add depth to the storyline, making their journeys feel genuine and relatable. Harper's lush prose brings the vibrant setting to life, immersing readers in a beautifully crafted universe. The themes of empowerment and transformation resonate throughout, offering a thoughtful exploration of identity and choice. Overall, this novel is a spellbinding read that leaves a lasting impression long after the final page.

I loved the first few books in this series, but I just couldn't get into this one. I was bored out of my mind and ended up skimming the last 60%.

It took me a good long while to to get into this book. I kept picking it up then putting it back down, I just couldn’t connect. Luckily I stayed with it! Welcome to the last book in the Thistle Grove series! This is Dasha, who is a devil eater, and Ivy, who is one of the Green witches of the Thorn family, second chance at love story. Ahh, but first they must deal with a giant demon trying to break through the veil, an amnesiac mundane Dasha finds wandering alone by their magical lake, and the actual Lady of the Lake Belissima coming to them for help. All of this coincides with the annual Cavalcade that celebrates the founding of the town by the four magical families.
Perfect timing!
**Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy the ARC of this book.**

Big sad feels right now because one of my favourite witchy series is finally over. I’ve bonded with so many people over this series and it’s been truly a comforting experience. Lana writes such thematically and emotionally rich stories that despite being fantasy adjacent they feel real. Loved !!!

This next chapter in this Thistle Grove series focuses on Dasha Avramov, a devil eater, and her desire to to get back together with her ex, Ivy Thorn. When they are tasked with planning the annual festival together, it seems like Dasha might have her chance. However, when one of the festival goers is possessed by a demon, it may be down to Dasha and her talents to save the town. Overall, a good addition to the series that continues to reveal the town's history and connections between the magical families. This one seemed to focus more on the magic and the town, rather than the romance.