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.

Full of magic, grief, love, and second chances, Rise and Divine follows Dasha as she navigates her unique powers, a new mysterious threat, and the lure of the other side of the veil to save her town and loved ones.

I absolutely LOVED the witchy, spooky vibes of this book! It swept me away instantly, and I was immersed in this read. I also adored the second-chance romance and definitely want to go back and read the other books in this series!

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I hear this is the last book in the series? Say it isn't so! I have absolutely enjoyed every one of the books. This one was really good. Dasha was a character that really was interesting to me. It was entertaining and touching. I'm sad to see the end of this series.

Daria's power to eat devils makes her unique among the witches of Thistle Grove but comes with some complications when living on the material plane. When a dark force threatens the town, Daria and her ex Ivy come together to fight the invader.

I really like the town of Thistle Grove and it's supernatural inhabitants. I did feel like I was missing some of the background info or these characters (presumably within another novel that I missed reading.) The lore was excellent.

Rise and Divine by Lana Harper is a captivating blend of fantasy and romance that draws readers into a world filled with magic, intrigue, and complex relationships. From my perspective, the world-building is lush and immersive, with Harper crafting a rich tapestry of mystical elements that feel both fresh and familiar. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, as she navigates her newfound powers and the intricate dynamics of those around her. The romance element is heartfelt, though at times it can feel overshadowed by the larger magical plot.

While the novel delivers plenty of twists and excitement, there are moments where the pacing dips, making some sections feel slower than others. However, the strength of Harper's writing and her ability to balance magical and emotional stakes keeps the story engaging. F

Our last time in Thistle Grove focuses on Dasha (an Avramov-Harlow daughter, though heavily leaning the former in affinity) and Ivy (a clear and classic Thorn). They’ve had a rocky history, with some of Dasha’s personal challenges getting in the way of the more lasting connection that they both want. Dasha’s ability – she’s a devil eater – means she crosses the veil quite a bit while banishing demons. And despite what one might think, it feels good to be there; after both her parents’ deaths, Dasha struggled to find reasons to stay in the real world. She made it through that, barely. Now, her ability and will are about to be put to the test because the biggest celebration in Thistle Grove, one that comes only every 20 years, is invaded by the shade of a dark, chaotic god…and Dasha may be the only one who can save the town. Oh, and her connection with Ivy might be the only thing that is strong enough to help her survive it, so thank goodness their time spent together planning the festival has rekindled some of the sparks between them.

Ok if I’m being honest, this romance wasn’t necessarily my favorite of the bunch. It was solid, and Dasha and Ivy seem like they are a good fit for each other, but the fact of their on-again/off-again past means that some of the on-page development of their relationship felt lacking. It was easy for Harper to fall into “they fit together so well” and “they knew each other already,” with only a few new confessions/vulnerabilities, so it did feel a bit shallower than it otherwise might have. However, that meant the spicy scenes were very smooth, no awkward newness, which is sometimes nice. I enjoyed it here. And to be fair, the connection between Dasha and Ivy was clear, and solid. So there wasn’t anything wrong with the romantic aspects here, they just felt less robust/more background to the plot, than in some of the previous books.

Speaking of the plot…it was eventful! There was possession and visitations from gods (beneficent and otherwise) and mysteries and festival events and all the classic Thistle Grove magics. And it culminated with a really well written coming together of all those magics, a cooperation and communication that was a (literally and figuratively) enchanting way to leave these families, who had been quite a bit more antagonistic towards each other when we first met them. The way this story really centered on the clashing of primordial godlike forces – creation and destruction – fit right, as a finale. It explained some of the mysteries about town, and sources of magic there, that hadn’t been covered yet. And it increased the drama to an extreme that made for both an entertaining big finish and a satisfying place to stop (there’s really nowhere to grow the story from here, tbh).

I also enjoyed, as a thematic element, the look at oppositional gods: forces created to be pulled toward each other, but never able to actually meet the needs of the other. It’s a fascinating and humanizing look at a divine mythology that’s captivated the entire world since its birth and, conceptually, I found it really interesting. All that power and no capacity to change…it’s surprisingly static/flat, while humanity gets all the dimensionality. What a reframe.

And because those plot elements were so larger-than-life, it was nice that the romance was a bit…smaller. It provided some space for the small things to shine, and I loved that. There was a sweet and tender highlighting of the power of the precious small parts of life – a favorite breakfast, a perfectly green leaf and wind in your hair, the smell of a fall candle – those fragile and easily overlooked, but comforting, parts. The way they can stand up to the ostentatious and extravagant and gluttonous and overbearing feelings of life, and provide a safe harbor from that, bringing solace, was a bit like reading a contented sigh. Which was a great balance to bring as a foil to the big emotions, reactions, and events of the rest of the story.

As I mentioned at the start, this was a very satisfying series finale to this series. I’ve loved being in Thistle Grove throughout it all, and I’m sad to see it end, but I’m also content leaving it here. And that’s really all I could have asked for in a closing book. I tip my hat (as it were) to Lana Harper. Thanks for this journey.

This series has been a whirlwind adventure and I’ve loved every minute of it. The town is a perfectly magical, fall oasis that I wish I could drop into. I loved the lore and magic systems, as well as the unique but intertwined family dynamics. So many queer characters with complex personal and family histories, who all ultimately just want to find love. This was a delight from start to finish, and perfect to start off October.

Thanks to Berkley, NetGalley and PRH Audio for the DRC/ALC.

I am so sad to say goodbye to the witches of Thistle Grove but what a way to end the series!! Dasha has always been a character that has fascinated me throughout the series and I was so happy to drive into this book. I really enjoyed her development and self discovery. I loved That Ivy came back and that she was able to open up her heart to her again. I think that their relationship while super strained at first developed into something really beautiful. I was happy to see Dasha open up and finally explain her feelings and what she went to to Ivy. The mystery surrounding the lake and the Goddess at the bottom has always been an interesting part of this series and it was cool to see it come to fruition in this book. As usual the Thistle Grove witches rose to get her and were able to defeat the threat to their town. While I am sad to see this series end I am excited to read them again back to back!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really liked this fifth book in the Thistle Grove series! It matched the tone of the first book well and although I haven't read the other books in the series, it seems like it built on existing character relationships well. I was immediately drawn into the story on page one and I finished the book in one day, I genuinely could not put the book down (sorry to my schoolwork)! I loved Dasha so much and her personal motivations and character flaws were so real to me. I also adored Ivy and Amrita. All of the interactions between the characters in this story were so well characterized and the dialogue was extremely well written. I was also very happy to be back in the Thistle Grove world. Rise and Divine is also the perfect book for fall/ spooky season! Cannot recommend more.

I absolutely love this series. It's so so good and queer and sometimes it's perfect for when you just want a silly romantic and cozy fantasy.

I am sad that this is the last book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. I joined this journey at book three, thanks to an ARC from NetGalley, which means, I still get to read books one and two before my journey fully ends.

This was a great ending to the series. I loved how it all came together and I look forward to reading more of Lana Harper's work in the future.

I loved this fifth installation in the Witches of Thistle Grove series!! This book is an FF exes-to-lovers romance which was written really well. I loved the MC, and the themes around grief, depression, and mental health were well done. There was also no third act breakup which I love to see, but I wanted a bit more talking from Dasha and Ivy when they eventually got back together. Otherwise, this book was fun, enchanting, and action-packed while delivering the same Thistle Grove magic and charm we know and love! 4.5 rounded up.

🌈Queer rep: FF main relationship, bi/pan main character, queer female love interest. Secondary nonbinary character, F/NB relationship, lesbian characters, bi/pan female characters, FF relationships.

The final book in the Witches of Thistle Grove wraps up the series with demons and death.


I have been a fan of this series since book one (Payback is a Witch). I love the town of Thistle Grove and the vast variety of characters we’ve met over five books. Saying that, I still wanted the series to keep going - there was more closure I wanted from the characters. But that’s probably because I just wanted to stay in Thistle Grove for longer!

This final book focuses on Dasha and Ivy, both characters we’ve met in other books previously. We know Dasha broke Ivy’s heart and in Rise and Divine we learn what happened. I will say, although the steamy parts of this book are so good, the actual romance seemed very easy. I really wanted Dasha to have to work harder on this second/ third chance on love story. However, the romance is very satisfying, and it’s lovely to see Ivy and Dasha together and see how hard they work on their relationship when they get there. Because, Dasha has some pretty big demons to wrestle with. Literally.

The story focuses more on Dasha and her experiences more so than on Dasha and ivy. I would say the romance is almost secondary here to Dasha’s quest for survival. She’s a demon eater who can go to the underworld and fight demons. The problem is, that since her parents passed away, she’s longing to stay in the underworld more and more and reject the living world. There’s a lot of exploration about death, and Dasha’s desire to not exist anymore. This is probably the darkest book in the series. It’s heavy, but handled extremely well. Dasha’s community helps and supports her without pandering and this is just an excellent representation of the kind of support someone battling depression should have in their life.

I loved learning more about Dasha’s magic and seeing the culmination of the long-running adventure that ties the books in the series together. There’s some mysterious events that happen in this book that tie to previous books, but there are some new characters introduced including one amnesia-riddled human who doesn’t know what’s happening or why Dasha found her wandering by the town’s lake after a magical festival. The mystery put Dasha on the path to face demons that are encroaching on her beloved town as well as the literal and figurative demons she’s dealing with in her life.

If you’re in need of a witchy, cozy and steamy read this fall, you should read Rise and Divine. Even better, go back to book one and binge yourself in Thistle Grove.

Look, you can't blame when I don't love a book so much. Personally, I just didn't vibe with Rise and Divine so much. I truly thought that I would because the premise of the book gave me the perfect queer romance to read for the spooky season. However, I just wasn't vibe with the main character. I just found her to be a little to careless with her actions and her thoughts. She truly didn't care for herself but she needs to take accountability for her actions. Her actions affect others. Other people have feelings too so I don't understand why she feels so entitled about people not giving her multiple chances. That's a no for me. Sorry, this book wasn't it.

4.25⭐️
2🌶

A divine trip back to Thistle Grove, just in time for the best season of the year!!

It's no secret that I love this series and all of its magic. Each book is unique, I love how the characters connect, and their mystical world sings to my witchy little soul.

Rise and Divine was a bit more intense than I anticipated, which I LOVED. It was a slow start but once we got there, we got there! The story held more emphasis on supernatural actions and their severe consequences with the romance between Dasha and Ivy woven into the darker storyline. Gods and goddesses and demons and trips beyond the veil. Is it still a rom-com? Yes, absolutely. Will it also tug at your heartstrings and maybe have you biting a nail or two? Also yes.

Dasha and Ivy's connection is hot hot hot, and I also loved their navigation of grief and healing. No one is perfect, no relationship is all sunshine and roses, and there's forgiveness between them that I felt was well highlighted and relatable.

Lana Harper's writing is exactly what I look for around the changing of the seasons. Whether it's summer into fall, winter into spring, fall into winter, or spring into summer, she has a Thistle Grove story to get you into the perfect supernatural mood. Also highly recommend binging all of the books regardless of the season, but you do you boo!

Also, a moment for these book covers?! HELLO GORGEOUS!!

*Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Lana Harper for an e-ARC of Rise and Divine! My opinion is my own and is being left voluntarily.*

I've been a big fan of Lana Harper since I first read Payback's a Witch! I was a little disappointed with this book. It was still good but I didn't feel like there was quite as much character development as the other ones in the series. I wish I'd gotten to know Ivy a bit better but since it was a second chance romance we didn't get to see her and Dasha fall for each other. The storyline about the other side and Dasha's stuggle with her addiction to it was an interesting idea but it didn't really draw me in the same way the earlier books in the series did.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Fantasy📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A heartwarming paranormal sapphic romance perfect for Fall

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Magical towns
Second chance romance with some spice
Cozy reads
Heavier themes
Devil eaters
Bittersweet series endings
Complex characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Sapphic rep
Great mental health rep

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Wanted a little more from the romance

This was very different from the other books in the series but may have all been leading here with the big bad that keeps popping up. Daria the fmc has some interesting necromancer witch powers from the Avramov family. Her abilities take a lot out of her and make her not feel complete after she’s used them.
This is a second chance romance with her ex Ivy Thorn who she has disappointed and left heartbroken twice. All of the drama and town events has kept them close together.
Loved the summoning and all the links to the town that we read from the past books. You definitely have to read in order to understand a lot of the references. These stories build even though they are a new relationship each time.

3.5
I don't know if anyone else can relate to having a series that you keep reading not because it's life-alteringly good, but because it's consistently enjoyable and scratches a certain mood-reader itch? "The Witches of Thistle Grove" series is that kind of series for me. Nothing is mind-blowing about the prose, the world-building, or the romances, but I'm always down to return to a spooky small town with a bunch of familiar faces.

Dasha is just trying to get through another festival without a hitch and survive occasionally seeing the ex she's still in love with, Ivy, as they're both witches involved in the celebration. Everything seems to be going well until a mysterious supernatural entity crashes the party and puts the entire town in danger. Dasha and Ivy must come together to figure out just who this spooky deity is and if they can banish him for good. Overall, a delightful paranormal sapphic romance.