this series has me in a chokehold, this one wasn't my favourite out of them and it was kind of hard to get through but it was worth it IMO

Compared to the first book, this was horrendous. This is the continued story of Diem after the goddess names her queen in the field. The whole book is the character self sabotaging, and being stubborn to the detriment of the story. 80% of it is her being rejected or belittled by Luther's ex and all the houses. It should have been one big event rather than giving each house a chapter including the mortals. At 90% is when the book finally gets interesting at the challenge but then it's back to dragging on. We also had to yet again endure a book of mixed signals between her and Luther. The story should have been cleaned up, and cut in half. It would be so much better.

I loved the first book, but I couldn't stand it. It was just overall boring and the same poor decisions repeated. The epilogue was OK, but again it was her mother being stubborn.

YELLING FROM THE ROOFTOPS FOR EVERYBODY TO READ THIS SERIES!

Where book one (Spark of the Everflame) was captivating and delicious, Glow doubles the stakes, making for an even better read than book one. This is a perfect romantasy series for readers who love both romance and fantasy, and refuse to skimp on a helping of either subgenre. There is TENSION! There is POLITICS! There are SCHEMES and BETRAYALS and LOSS and SEXUALLY CHARGED SHOE REMOVALS!!!! I am wildly obsessed with this series but especially this book, as it traverses well-loved, familiar tropes and plot points while exploring a brand new dimension to the story.

Glow continues telling Diem's story, seeing her through the tumultous changes thrown her way at the end of Spark. Diem is forced to face court politics, the tricky process of choosing alliances, and a whole new cast of characters, all while navigating her very complicated feelings about the people she's relying on to guide her through the pinnacle of her journey: the Challenging.

My love for Diem grew in leaps and bounds in this installment. Sometimes it's hard to relate to fantasy main characters, because real life enemies are decidedly less sexy or exciting, and I've never had to prove myself to a species of people who abhor me and everything I represent, but there's something so deeply relatable in Diem with her recklessness, her avoidance of things that give her anxiety, her yearning and relentless clinging to people and ideas from her past, and her tendency to let her emotions run the show and throw all planning and scheming to the wind. Penn utterly nails the trifecta of great storytelling — compelling characters, a captivating plot, and enough sizzling romance to keep you hooked the entire length of this deliciously slow burn story.

Without getting too much into where the story takes us here, rest assured that there are plenty of twists and moments that will have you pacing your room reading at 30000 wpm speeds. It's also chock full of all of our favorite tropes: ONE HORSE! Quirky found family! A mutual who-did-this-to-you, i'll-kill-them moment! And an MMC who not only calls her good girl, but who would also literally burn the entire world down for her just to lay it at her feet.

This is a series for the romantasy fans, for the slow burn folks, for the I-love-cliffhangers-because-I-love-theorizing people. It's a RIDE and one I'm already dying to reread just to feel even a shred of the emotional whirlwind that this put me through for the first time again.

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛. 𝙰𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎.”

Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole
5/5 🌟
1.5 - 2/5 🌶️

Now that is what I'm talking about! I was HOOKED on this installment from the beginning and it didn't let me go. I loved where this story took us. This book was so heartbreaking. It literally BROKE my heart. There was so much character development for Diem. Much needed character development. Luther. Ah Luther. I was so glad to have more of him in this book. I loved all the side characters especially Taran and Eleanor. I didn't like Henri in the last book and I still don't. Henri is definitely right up there with Dain and Tamlin. 🥴 The reveal at the end was a complete shock. I want to read book 3 I'll wait until book 4 is closer to release

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Glow of the Everflame is the second book in the Kindred’s Curse series and continues to follow Diem as she finds herself caught between the world of the Descended and the world of the mortals.

That was a horrible blurb, but I don’t want to include any spoilers.

GUYS. This book was INCREDIBLE. I devoured it and loved every single second of it. I felt like at no point did I really have a good idea of what was going to happen, or where it was going to go. The plots and twists DIDDDDD plot and twist lemme tell ya!!

I liked Diem as a main character, but she definitely did things that made me roll my eyes. However, Luther Corbois…….. the MANNNNNNNNNN that you are. He’s hit the top all-timer list of book boyfriends people. The banter??? The touch her and you die vibes??? I’m obsessed. Gnawing at the gates of my ENCLOSURE for this man. The side characters are all incredible too - Eleanor, Teller, Taran, Alixe, Lily, I love them!!!!

Jumping into book three which is 1,026 pages…… wish me luck! 🫡

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

The novel follows Diem, a fiercely determined protagonist who is faced with a dire challenge: to avert impending war through a precarious alliance with the very people she despises—the royal family of House Corbois.
One of the most commendable aspects of Cole’s writing is her ability to weave intricate character dynamics that resonate with the complexity of human emotions. Diem is not a one-dimensional heroine; she grapples with deep-seated prejudices, personal loss, and an identity shaped by her tumultuous past. As she navigates the glittering yet treacherous realm of the Descended elite, readers accompany her on a journey that compels them to question their own perceptions of morality. The manner in which Cole portrays the Corbois family challenges the age-old trope of "good versus evil," allowing for nuanced storytelling that adds depth to the narrative.
The tension in Glow of the Everflame is expertly crafted, with the clock ticking down to Diem's deadline of thirty days. This countdown creates an atmosphere of urgency that propels the plot forward, while also allowing for moments of introspection. Diem's confrontation with her past—particularly the mystery of her missing mother—adds another layer of intrigue, pulling readers deeper into her emotional battles. The interplay of her old flame and a new romantic interest adds a relatable layer of complexity, showcasing how love can complicate our loyalties in times of crisis.
This book is a gripping tale of survival, self-discovery, and the moral complexities of human nature. It poses questions about loyalty, identity, and the sacrifices one must make for the greater good, making it not just an adventure but a reflective journey. For fans of fantasy that combine vivid world-building with character-driven narratives, this book is a must-read. As Diem discovers, the path to truth and redemption is fraught with challenges, but it’s in facing those challenges that we often find our true selves.

I’m obsessed with this series. I loved the first one and didn’t think I’d love the next more but boy did I. Loved!

The first book of the series was good… This book was a thrilling ride on an emotional rollercoaster!
The story was full of twists and turns that kept my eyes glued to the page. Sometimes I wanted to smack Diem, but most of the time she is quite the badass FMC. She is struggling with a lot through this book - love, family, friends, growing as a person and as the unchallenged queen.
Luther still has a large piece of my heart in this one and the more we learn, the deeper I fell for him - Diem too 😉, while Taran has the rest of it. The rest of the side characters also continue to contribute significantly to the story.
The plot and pacing is perfection, in my opinion. I was glued from the beginning until the very end and that ending left me wanting so much more.
I recommend this to all fantasy readers out there.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Oh. My. I haven’t felt this way about a series since ACOTAR. Absolutely delicious. LOVED the first book. I feel this second one is giving us a lot of world building, a lot in conflict building and is setting us up for a huge climax. I can’t freaking wait. Diem is a fierce main character. She gives me Katniss and Feyre vibes. I’m all about it. And Luther?! WOW. Rivaling Rhys here for best book boyfriend. 😍 the magic, the heroism, the battles….FABULOUS book.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS SERIES. I'm so happy it's getting traditionally published and will shout about this series until the end of time. PICK IT UP

I have been loving this series and am excited to see it start to get the hype that it deserves. The world building, twists, character arcs, politics, magical elements, etc, etc, are all on par with epic series like ACOTAR. I’ve seen a lot of reviews that don’t like Diem, the fmc, and while I get where they’re coming from, I think her choices perspective is what helps make the plot so much better. Who wants to read about a perfect character who never does anything wrong? It also leaves plenty of room for potential growth and redemption. I loved the plot twists and turns in this book, the many different settings and characters, and the jaw dropping cliff hanger at the end. I had a hard time putting this book down and was completely unable to predict how it would play out. This series is complex and super smart without being hard to understand or follow. I can’t wait to finish the whole series and am dying to know what happens!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

War is coming and Diem must decide which side she’s on and who she’s fighting for, the mortals she’s lived alongside her entire life or her Descended found family. Talk about a slow burn! I was waiting this whole time for Diem to dump one of the characters and move on to the hunky MMC but dang this girl is indecisive. When does the “roman” in romantasy come in? Not in this 700 page beast. Regardless I devoured this book and loved the plot, action, and characters. If you’re looking for complexity and an SJM style look elsewhere. But this series is reeling me in page after page. Next up: 1,000 page book 3. See you on the other side. PS: gryverns 😍

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite romantasy series of all time, god it's just so good!

Glow of the Everflame picks up right where we left off in Spark, Diem is the actual QUEEN with an unremovable crown and everything! She is at first out of her mind with denial and panic understandably but with Luther's help she settles into the role. There are more obstacles to her actually being coronated like the other houses and something called The Challenge. Henri is still kickin around unfortunately and he doesn't make things easy for Diem but she actually starts to see Luther as an ally and friend and maybe something more.

I found Glow to be even better than Spark though I wanted to strangle Diem at times. When she practically begs Henri to love her and trust in her and to be her King.. UGH BARF! Henri doesn't deserve to lick your boots girl, he sucks! Meanwhile, Luther has me suspicious that he's actually more to Diem than just a man irrevocably in love with her...like maybe they are mates and he knows. The way he told Taran to guard her and Taran was all like "I know brother...I know" that has to mean something! The romance between Diem and Luther is a very slow burn and she is super hesitant that there could be anything between them but they slowly let each other in and reveal their true selves to each other and it's so sigh worthy.

The ending to Glow was out of this world. I didn't expect all that and I'm so worried for Diem and what will happen to her. I really hope we don't have a long separation for our two love birds...I can't stand those! I just need Luther to get his butt in there and take her away and go make babies. I'm diving right into the next book because I have zero patience but this series is just getting better and better and I'm obsessed with it! Thank you SO much to Atria books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review! (P.S. Atria, I love you!)

I was so frustrated with the beginning of this book, so confused as to why Diem kept pushing talking to her father and making some stupid mistakes. But as the book went on I started enjoying it much more. I loved the new characters we got to meet and the found family that came together throughout the book. I also loved that we got to see Teller more in this book and how he actually got to show us that he is as smart as everyone says. The romance had me on the edge of my seat as well, this series is very slow burn and this second book has so much angst I loved it. Though, I do still hate Henri and felt like the love triangle/relationship with him got dragged on for too long. I can’t wait to dive straight into Heat of the Everflame after that cliffhanger.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I really enjoyed book 1 and was looking forward to book 2. I was immediately drawn back in but started to lose interest about 30% in. These books are getting longer and longer and I feel like a lot is stretched out to be long (as many fantasy books are very long). Diem goes back and forth on being a likeable character. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as book 1 but still look forward to book 3!

This series is the definition of a slow burn. Can not wait for the third book!

“I want your every breath, every laugh, every tear.”

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This second book in the Kindred’s Curse series was somehow both a comforting read to escape into while also being angsty and terrifying. Cole is fearless in her writing, not afraid to cause readers momentary pain or frustration in the name of character development and an unpredictable plot. I enjoyed Spark well enough to continue the series, but Glow had a 4 day torturous grip on me.

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
➤ Diem’s Cadre - the multi-person dialogue felt so natural and fluid; the banter, affection, and quarrels amongst these friends made reading easy and enjoyable.
➤ Diem - essentially she makes every decision the reader DOESNT want her to make and is mostly a source of angst and frustration, but you love and root for her?
➤ Fast Moving plot that never feels chaotic.

Glow of the Everflame follows Diem after the cliffhinger from Book 1 (trying to keep this review Spoiler-Free). We get a glimpse into the world-building, with small level conflicts and character building along the way. I am excited to see how Penn Cole expands our knowledge in Book 3 and hope to see more of the world and characters.

I received an ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I did not really enjoy this book too much. I think that there were far too many characters all introduced all at once with little to no background info to help identify and differentiate them. I wanted to like this book, but it was just hard to get through

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Just like Spark, this another easy 5 star read. I loved it from start to finish. I can't get enough of Luther & Diem ❤️ and beyond that, the plot really is incredible. There is so much thought put into every detail of this story. I cannot wait to move on to book 3! This is becoming one of my all time favorite series. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!