This is good, deep, heartfelt, dark in some areas.
It’s a well rounded book.
You are entertained the entire time, and you will definitely enjoy it if you have enjoyed the others! ◡̈

A fun, cozy, witchy romance. The perfect read for fall as we get into the Halloween season. This was my first read in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, but I'll definitely be going back for more. Empathetic characters draw you right into this paranormal romance story.

I can’t believe I read this series backward, but I realized it was too late. I usually avoid diving too deep into researching books because I want to fully enjoy and be surprised by them. I was intrigued after reading the excerpt of Rise and Divine. It screamed cozy and witchy for me, perfect for the fall. I own Payback is a Witch, but I haven’t read it yet. I was hoping to get around to it towards the fall since it gave me a sense of a cozy read with a warm cup of hot chocolate or tea on my side. However, when I came across this book by the same author on Netgalley, I immediately jumped in for an opportunity to read this. I am immensely grateful to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it pains me to know I read the last book first. Knowing that now I must start over, fall in love with all the characters, the town Thistle Grove, and the magic all over again, knowing how it all ties together at the end. Even knowing that I must do all of this, it doesn’t lessen my love to the story.

The story remains significant even if you don’t read it in order. I believe it can still be enjoyed as a standalone, with its characters, town, and magic standing out regardless.

Moving past my mistake, Dasha emerges as an exceptional character. The author creates such a striking symbolism between Dasha’s unique power, which is devouring demons versus depression and grief. Depression and grief are both profound emotional states that manifest differently but are intertwined. Dasha is constantly fighting with both emotions, in other words, fighting with her demons. Every time she uses her gift, she relives her pain, the loss of her parents, and the loss of the love of her life.

Every time she passes the vail between her world and the beyond, it is a very dangerously balanced symbolism that captures the essence of suicidal ideation. Dasha’s power is depicted as a consuming force and an overwhelming burden that mirrors the internal struggle faced by those experiencing suicidal thoughts. Maybe I am reading too much into this, but that’s how I imagined Dasha in my mind, a balance of intense emotional pain and a desire for relief.

It was amazing how, through it all, she managed to move forward. Despite the heavy burden she carried, it was with the presence and encouragement of those around her that provided the lifeline she needed. Somehow, Rise and Divine provides a powerful reflection on the nature of suffering and the complex path toward asking for help and healing.

I am sad this has ended, but I am ecstatic that now I can relive it all over again, starting the series as intended.

Saying goodbye to Thistle Grove is shockingly difficult. This world has been one of my favorites to explore. Dasha and Ivy's second chance romance felt kind of rushed and like I had no reason to root for them. My favorite part of a romance is the yearning and there's just none of that here. One minute they're broken up, the next they're back together and in love. That just wasn't it for me. It's fine if a romantic subplot doesn't work but, in my opinion, since this is a romance it should be better and I'd have liked more reason for the characters to get back together

I loved Dasha and the parallels between her struggle with wanting to return to the otherside of the veil paralleled with addiction. Ivy I felt like I hardly knew and this made it hard for me to root for the romance. The whole concept of devil eating was super cool.

The world continues to be my favorite part of this series and I'm truly sad to see it go. The witchy vibes are perfect and reading this series during spooky season is a great idea. Just set expectations for the romance. If you're here for cute magical small town and witchy vibes, you'll enjoy it

In the fifth and final book in the Thistle Grove series, Rise and Divine, Lana Harper continues her ability to create enthralling and complex romances that combine magic and adventure. The story, much like the rest of the series, is immediately engaging and invests the reader into Dasha’s love life with Ivy, despite the mistakes she’s made in the past.
One of the reasons the romance is so enjoyable is that it is complex, complicated and heartbreaking at moments as you get to see how and why Dasha struggles with the relationship. While Dasha wants to revive the relationship, it’s hard for Ivy to trust her, completely reasonable and authentic. But the narrative gives a reason for the pair to work together despite their past and the story is genuinely thrilling, continuing the threads of narratives from the previous books and bringing the series to a stunning conclusion.
If you like magical witch romances of a sapphic nature, this book is a lovely read with a genuine relationship, fun adventure, and an interesting solution to the threat that Thistle Grove faces. The characters are engaging and fun with an enthralling and complex romance that will make you fall in love with the world once again. I truly love the ending to the series but wish there was more so I could continue to visit Thistle Grove

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I really love Payback’s a Witch and From Bad to Cursed. I didn’t like the next two books in this series nearly as much, and unfortunately, I did not enjoy Rise and Divine at all. I wanted so much more from the romance, and the writing style of this book made it a slog to get through.

Developing the romance was not a main focus of the book, which is not inherently bad, but this is a genre romance book and very different from the rest of the series in this way. Dasha is very concerned with getting Ivy back until she does, then her focus goes elsewhere. The reconciliation between Ivy and Dasha happens very quickly and doesn’t feel earned– it seems like they go from having extremely little to no contact with each other to a very steamy reunion. However, I felt that the chemistry between Dasha and the male demon was given more attention than Dasha and Ivy’s. I do understand that Dasha’s being attracted to the demon was a metaphor for suicidal ideation (representation which I appreciate), but I was disappointed with how much it distracted from the sapphic romance.

This may come off as a grammar-obsessed rant, so feel free to skip this section if that’s not your thing. One of the main reasons I loved Payback’s a Witch so much was Harper’s imagery and ability to stimulate every one of my senses reading about the magical town of Thistle Grove; I feel as though this quality was lost in Rise and Divine and instead get the impression that the author was just trying to meet a word count. My big issue is that if you removed every phrase beginning with the word “like,” the book would be half as short, maybe even more. In Payback’s a Witch, Harper’s use of figurative language was incredibly evocative and added to the witchy fantasy vibe, but in this book it’s distracting and repetitive past the point of overkill. Basically every other sentence excluding dialogue ends in a “like” comparison, which may not bother some but was annoying to me. Here are some examples from the uncorrected eARC:
“Her eyes had flashed mutinously between the two of us like a rebellious teen”
“trapped between the lightning strikes like prison bars”
“[the demon] paused, the smile dropping away like a husk, an awful darkness falling like a curtain across his face”
“his flawless face intoxicating and deathly as a draught of some hemlock-touched wine, those green eyes bright like emeralds. A smile curling the corners of his lips, one hand outstretched to me like a cavalier’s.”
The first part of the sentence is often descriptive enough to paint a clear picture of what is happening, so most of these piled-on comparisons are unnecessary, annoyingly repetitive, and made me lose track of what was actually happening.

Also at one point the big bad demon says the word “mille-feuille” which is absolutely bonkers.

The most memorable part of this book for me was a hilarious interaction between Emmy, Talia, and Gareth, which got me thinking that it’s about time for a reread of Payback’s a Witch.

The Thistle Grove series is one of my all time favorites, and I was beyond thrilled to get to read and review an early copy of Rise and Divine! Lana Harper has created and expanded upon a vibrant world full of cozy magic and unforgettable characters. The established lore was a perfect gateway to lead into this series finale, but much like its predecessors, Rise and Divine can be consumed as a standalone.

This was a far more introspective story than the previous Thistle Grove novels. Dasha’s grief after losing both of her parents played a huge part in her self discovery journey and her inner monologues are tinged with intense reflections on family, psyche, and love. Her coping mechanisms (or occasionally, lack thereof) are on full display, as are some of her darkest, most private thoughts. I think Harper handled these sensitive topics in a respectful and realistic manner and I held a vast amount of sympathy for Dasha. When it came to Dasha’s magical abilities, the concept of being a “devil eater” was something we had not yet encountered in the world of Thistle Grove. It sets Dasha apart from the other protagonists we’ve followed and proved to produce some of the most mystical scenes of the series. Dasha’s hypersensitivity to the other side of the veil and the demonic evils intent on ravaging Thistle Grove made for an exhilarating reading experience that kept me on the edge of my seat.

My only gripe is that while I consider this a second chance romance, it didn’t take much for Dasha and Ivy to rekindle their old flame. From the novel’s start, we are aware of Dasha and Ivy’s previous breakup and the spectacular way in which Dasha self-sabotaged their relationship. Because of this, I thought there was going to be more conflict before Ivy decided to reconcile, but she seemed to put her trust in Dasha again fairly quickly. I wanted to see a little more groveling on Dasha’s part to prove to Ivy (and readers) that she’d grown. I do adore how Lana Harper incorporates all manners of love and identity into her books and Rise and Divine is a great addition to the sapphic witchy zeitgeist. Dasha and Ivy’s spicy scenes were off the charts and I enjoyed watching them claw their way towards happiness.

I am sad to see the Thistle Grove series come to an end but it was such a pleasure to revisit the world one more time in Rise and Divine. Harper’s town of four founding witch families and their chaotic, paranormal adventures feels like curling up under a blanket on a cozy, autumn afternoon. I highly recommend adding Rise and Divine as well as the previous Thistle Grove books to your fall TBR!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fun and easy witchy read perfect for the upcoming spooky season. I enjoyed the various types of magic in the families, and the mystery and love story kept me engaged. The sapphic love story was sweet, I loved the “second chance romance” and how they openly communicated what went wrong the first time. It is always refreshing to see a love story that shows us what went wrong and how they communicated to fix it, and no pesky miscommunication trope. This is book five in a series; it is definitely better to read this if you have read the other books. Often it felt a little overwhelming with the information dumps, it was a lot of names, families, and locations to try to keep up with, which would distract me from the story. Overall it is still a good option for anyone wanting a witchy read but read the rest of the series first.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

I'm feeling very mixed about this addition to the Thistle Grove series, especially as the series ending. On the one hand, I still want to move to Thistle Grove. On the other hand, I did not care all that much about Dasha and Ivy...so much so that I skimmed through portions of this book in the middle. Maybe it would have benefitted from a dual POV, because Ivy seemed very one-dimensional, and Dasha is quite a heavy character to read about. I could have done with a little lightness in this book, especially since it's closing out the series.

I also wish the big baddie was introduced earlier in the series. There have been allusions to something coming - seemingly just weather-related issues, but to introduce and then resolve what seems like such a large conflict in one book made it feel not entirely fleshed out. It almost felt like Lana Harper was coming up with ideas as she went along, but looking back, it makes the series seem slightly all over the place. It felt to me like she wanted to change lore as she wrote each book, and had to cut corners to find the logic.

All in all, this was a fun series, I give so much credit to Lana Harper for creating such a lovely world that I know a lot of people would love to be made real!

I’m bias but the Avramov family are my favorite and when I read that Ms. Dasha Avramov was a D E V I L!!! E A T E R!!!! No way. No freaking way.

Dasha is a true Avramov and everything that comes with the family’s “reputation” (I mean, they are necromancers…). She has her own struggles with the events that have happened to her but she is determined to keep herself grounded to the world of the living.

Even without the love from the beautiful Ivy Thorn. But even promising to stop asking for another chance, the urge to repair what was broken between them is harder to contain as they’re forced to be partners in the festivity planning.

Hey! Remember how I mentioned devils? And eating them and all that cool sh*t? Yeah bro, that’s insane but that’s not even the best part and while I loveeeeeeee a good romance witchy book, this one was also GIVVVVVING action and chaos and hold on to your butt energy.

Ahhhhhhh a bittersweet ending to the Thistle Grove series. I freaking love these books 😭 I will have a completed set on my shelf here in the near future. I’m determined.

Thank you @lanalyte @berkleypub and @netgalley for the ARC 🥹 I absolutely voluntarily read and reviewed this book and everything is my own opinion 💖

A witch haunted by her pasts tries to save both her relationship and her town from the demons closing in. Daria "Dasha" Avramo v is a devil eater: a rare necromatic witch who can banish demons and travel through the veil. Dasha has been mourning the loss of her parents and obsessed with the world beyond the veil. She guards herself, yet she can't resist Ivy Thorn, the beautiful and wise woman who just happens to be the love of her life... that she's broken up with twice. Yet when they have to come together to work on the month long festival, Dasha is hoping to win Ivy back. You know what they say, third times the charm. But Dasha will have to finally let Ivy in and they must also stop the evil that is threatening their beloved town of Thistle Grove. This book was a nice end to the series, it dealt with a lot of grief and the characters grew. I had fun reading the series and loved meeting all the characters throughout the books. This particular book focused on grief and healing, and I liked the overall ending of it all. I'e enjoyed all the rep that Lana has written and I can't wait to see what Lana writes in the future!

Release Date: August 20,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I love the Witches of Thistle Grove series and this latest paranormal sapphic romance was no exception!! A demon eater witch who is battling an addiction to the dark side is tasked with saving her town and friends from an evil God. Great on audio narrated by Bailey Carr, this book had spice, heart and depth plus great mental health rep. HIGHLY recommended for fans of Hazel Beck and Erin Sterling. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

*Received as a free ARC*
A bit darker than the rest of the series, but just as good! Very surprised that it was the last book. I thought for sure there was a Gareth redemption plot incoming. Nope. Oh well. It wrapped up some lose ends and touched back in with all the other pairings. A fitting conclusion.

Rise and Divine! I’m sad to see the end of Thistle Grove but it was a good ending to the series. Book three still is my favorite of the set but this one was pretty good as well. It was a little spicier than I remember the others being, especially the other sapphic pairings. The plot line in this was interesting and a little dark and kept me focused throughout the book.

Thank you Berkley Romance for the free book and PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Rise and Divine is the fifth book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series from Lana Harper. In this book, we focus most on Dasha Avramov. I loved returning to that family, as they are probably my favorites. And Dasha has especially powerful magic with her abilities as a devil eater. She can exorcise demons at will.

I really enjoyed the continuation of the story about the magical town of Thistle Grove. It follows beautifully from In Charm's Way and highlights the aftermath quite well. And it's just so fun to be back in that magical town. All of the paranormal and mystery elements hit right for me.

But I found the romance here underwhelming. It's a second chance romance (actually third chance) with Ivy Thorn. And their getting back together just didn't feel believable to me. So much was invested in the witchcraft that their romance fell more than a little flat.

The audiobook was narrated by Bailey Carr. I recognized her voice but couldn't place it, so I actually looked her up. She also narrated A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, and she is so fantastic.

rounded up to 4 stars

Event planner by day, devil eater by night, Dasha has always led an unconventional life. After spending too long on the other side, some unresolved trauma and grief, and dumping her perfect girlfriend, Ivy, Dasha is looking for a way to stay with those who love her. But when the demon of all demons starts wrecking havoc in Thistle Grove, it's up to Dasha to use her devil eating skills without sacrificing herself to the underworld. And maybe Ivy's love can help her do that.

I can't believe this is the end! The last book in the series! I was really hoping for a full redemption circle closing book for Gareth, so I've got my fingers crossed that Berkley and Lana somehow decide that six is the perfect number. Regardless, I'm deeply sad this series is over. As a contemporary romance reader who doesn't often dabble in the fantastical, this series was a gateway for me. Although this book, like number four, veered a little too fantasy for my preferences, I assume others will love it. Because I did enjoy it, and the romance was sweet, and I was definitely kept on my toes and binged it all the way through.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

This series has evolved from witchy romcom to low fantasy with a splash of romance. The last two books were somewhat lackluster for me because they were clinging to romcom when they wanted to be fantasy. Rise and Divine seems to give into the fantasy lead and the result is the biggest and most interesting installment. With grand good-vs-evil stakes and interesting new lore, I ended up really enjoying this book. A solid ending to the series.

I love this series so much! Each book is so cute and perfect for all the witchy vibes I need in my life!

Rise and Divine is going to be perfect for folks who want a small town romance with witches and a little drama. Whether you've enjoyed Harper's other books or The Ex Hex, this will definitely be a great add to your fall TBR.

Rise and Divine follows Dasha as the town's fall magical festival begins. She's on the committee, so she's trying to fulfill her responsibilities and avoid her ex girlfriend. Unfortunately, when her demon eating skills become necessary due to a major mishap, Dasha and Ivy collide again.

This is a story with witches, family history, a hades and persephone like story, and lesbians! It was a great read to get into the fall mood whether you've read Harper's other witchy books or not!

✨ RISE AND DIVINE ✨

Witchy vibes, autumn/Samhain festival, and a cozy small town? Say less.

The fifth and final installment in the Thistle Grove Witches series follows Daria “Dasha” Avramov, devil eater- an uncommon talent even among necromantic witches giving her the ability to cross “the veil” and banish demons. While planning the town’s festival along with her ex, Ivy Thorn, the two must face a threat against Thistle Grove greater than any the town has seen before.

I loved the setup of this book as Dasha is planning the festival- we get to see even more of Thistle Grove and honestly, I’m so sad that it’s not a real place because I would love to visit 😭 I also enjoyed learning more about the Avramov family magic and Dasha’s devil eating skill in particular. Seeing her explore the other side of the veil, especially through the lens of her grief over the loss of her parents, was very powerful.

I wish there had been a few reminders of what happened in the previous books- I know both Dasha and Ivy made appearances before but I have a terrible memory and could have used a little more description instead of just vague mentions here and there- I felt like I was missing something.

I’m sad that this series is over, but I can’t wait to see what Lana Harper writes next!

Rise and Divine will be out August 20. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.