The Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole is the third book in the Kindred's Curse series. I love this series! In this book, there were some more slow parts and it felt a little repetitious at times. However, the story was great and explored more of the world that we haven't had the chance to see in the first two books. And some of the repetition was necessary for those that may have waited a while in between books. It is so easy to forget what happened in previous books when you are reading them as they come out. Now, how long until the next one?

To start, I just want to say that this book took me NINE months to finish. I disliked Diem in the first two books, but I had just gotten back into reading and had heard good things about this series and wanted to push through. But I was so burnt out with her by the time I got to this one that I DNFd it...
Eventually and finally I made my way back and it did not disappoint! Diem grows so much in this book and is such a different character by the end. Her morals never stray, but her demeanor takes a complete 180.
There were parts that frustrated me still, like Luther not telling Diem about his godstone wound, or Auralie only seeing the worst in Luther, so that took away some of mt enjoyment, but this is still a solid 4 stars for me!
Even though it took me so long to get back to this one, it's going down as a series I'd recommend!

ALSO that cliffhanger ending?!???

LUTHER!! The man that you are!!!! I would like to profusely thank Penn Cole for writing this amazing series and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARCs. Without these two things, I would not have read this story. And that would have been unacceptable. The twists and turns in this book kept me on my toes and guessing at what was going on. I love when a book makes me think about what every single word the author wrote could mean. Penn Cole, PLEASE give me the next book now.

✨Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole✨

Genre: Romantasy
Pages: 1026
Series: The Kindred’s Curse,Book 3

📚After her disastrous coronation, Diem finds herself at the center of the conflict between the Descended and the Guardians. With her newfound friends and the man she’s falling for on one side, and the mortals she has vowed to protect on the other, Diem must walk a careful line to save the people she loves… even from each other.

The mystery of her unusual heritage begins to unravel, sending Diem and Luther on an unexpected journey across the realms. The answers may hold the key to winning the war, but finding them will require her to face painful truths about her mother, her bloodline, and her fate.

Meanwhile, the Crowns have set Diem in their sights. Some could be her greatest allies—while others want her dead. To end their oppressive reign, Diem must sort friend from foe and risk it all to build an army of her own.

But a powerful figure in the north has plans that could change everything...

📝I’m so sad😭I loved the first two books but this one disappointed me. It had all the things that I dislike about fantasy.

Diem turns into this overpowered FMC that refuses to listen to anyone. She’s annoying, unreasonable and reckless. Luther turned into a whole other character. He used to be a commanding presence that challenged Diem, in this book, he morphed into an obedient and forgettable sidekick. Diem and Luther’s dynamic here made no sense.

Finally, this book was too long. The plot was drawn out for no reason. You could have cut 300 pages and nothing would have changed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I had heard a lot about this series, but hadn't started it yet (I like to binge my way through) -- so I had to backtrack and start at book 1. I loved that that author was able to build this world fluidly, without stopping the storyline to fill in the fantasy/expository for pages and pages. It was well peppered through the action.

For this book specifically: at this point in the series, I loved Diem and Luther already, and it was difficult to go through their one-step-forward, seventeen-steps-back situation in this installment. I absolutely wanted to tie them both to chairs and make them talk openly and honestly with each other, which is super frustrating as a reader.

That said, I do feel like the action and plot twists keep getting better and better. This ends on a cliffhanger, and the author gives us enough foreshadowing to ponder possible solutions for the issue. I also feel like this world is unique in many ways, so that it doesn't automatically make me think of other series in the genre - it's a fresh story, but still holds true to many of the best loved themes/tropes of romantasy.

And now...I sadly wait for the last two books. Sigh. However, this was good enough for me to know at the start that I would enjoy the re-read with each additional novel. Well done, Penn Cole!

Love this series so much! Sad I have to wait for the next one!!
This is such a good fantasy story - great characters and world building. Love it and so excited for the next one!!

Heat of the Everflame delivers another intense, emotional installment in the series as Diem navigates war, love, and the mystery of her past. The stakes are higher than ever, and the twists keep coming as new alliances form and old loyalties are tested. The world building remains rich, the pacing strong, and the cliffhanger ending leaves you desperate for book four. A solid continuation that fans of the series will thoroughly enjoy.

This was my favorite fantasy series I read in 2024. I have missed the feeling of reading a fantasy series that I could not put down and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning consuming. I cannot wait for "BURN" and am so grateful for the tragedy, drama, and love story in the beautiful world building of this story.

Immediately yes. This was incredible! The series just keeps getting better and better!! I couldn't put it down and was hooked from the very beginning. Can't wait to continue with the series!

Due to Kobo not supporting the new Netgalley file type, I wasn't able to read this book in time to give feedback for it. It's still on my TBR and I'm looking forward to diving in when I get a copy.

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.

This is such a thrilling series! I can’t put it down and I’m so looking forward to more! The writing is so captivating and Diem is a great MC!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Penn Cole does it again, destroyed my heart, and put it back together with Hello Kitty-themed bandaids and a kiss. I was initially intimidated by the length of this boo,k but I flew through this and so will you. The political intrigue is getting increasingly deep, and the characters along with it.

This series has a hold on me. Packing was a little different than other two but that made me enjoy it all the more. It was filled with so much drama and friendship I loved it so much. Can we have book 4 already??

Wow! This series just keeps getting better. Picking up right where the last book left off, Diem is at the mercy of the Guardians. Her crown is in question and she’s wanted in all the realms, including her own. Mysteries of her origin begin to unravel, and the stakes become higher. I loved that we got to visit more of the realms in this book!

For those who love:
✨Slow Burn Romance
✨Court Intrigue
✨Found Family
✨Dragons!!!
✨Royalty
✨Magic
✨On the brink of war
✨Dual Alliances
✨More World-Building

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

🔥 Tropes in Heat of the Everflame 🔥
✨🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
🔥💥 Fated Mates
🌪️🌑 Forbidden Magic
❤️‍🔥🔥 Slow Burn Romance
🧙‍♀️🩸 Powerful Bloodlines
👑💔 Royal Secrets
👯‍♀️⚔️ Found Family
🔮💘 Magical Bond
🗝️👁 Hidden Powers Revealed

Well, after Glow of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #2) ended on that wild cliffhanger, I had to dive into Heat of the Everflame. 😮‍💨🔥
Diem really grew on me in this one, and Luther? Somehow even better. He’s the ultimate book boyfriend — loyal, swoony, and totally obsessed (even when Diem makes some seriously rage-inducing choices 😅).
The tension between them? Off the charts. Definitely spicier than books 1 & 2. 🌶️🌶️
Safe to say I’m already counting down to book 4. Bring it on. 👀📚

the cliffhanger of this book is my 13th reason of today and its only 8:40 in the morning 🥲

this series has been so much fun to read so far, my only complaint so far is how lengthy shes getting. ive had to do them along side the audios or it takes me ages to get through, especially this one 😅

i feel like my brain is still broken and processing what just happened so i shall be back later on when i can put my thoughts into more sentences LOL however im sooo excited to see where the next book will take us!!!

I loved the other two, but unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. I adored the slow burn and the found family aspects. While I adore fantasy, especially fantasy romance, this one felt incredibly drawn out (almost like it could have been two books).

This series continue to get better and better. Penn Cole's world building, plot, writing is perfection. It was an emotional journey but one I do not regret taking.

What you'll find:
- Slow burn romance
- light fantasy (not too much world building)
- magic
- single POV

🙈 This one was a miss for me. For one thing, it was too long. 1000 pages! The plot was unnecessarily repetitive and the slow burn is slooooow. I don't want to spoil it by saying more, but I have a lot of reasons this didn't hit for me. I am clearly in the minority judging by the Goodreads reviews. It ended on a cliffhanger. Will I pick up book 4 when it comes out? Tbd.