Oh buddy this is romantasy done WELL.
This was a series I had been wanting to read so I got to binge the first two books before diving into this ARC.
I feel like book 3 in a multiple book series tends to be the book that gets lots of the heavy world/plot building. This one definitely follows that trend to set up for the ending that is to come. I loved the banter between characters.
Loved all the politics that happen in this one!
Can't wait for book 4!!


I also really enjoy watching author's become traditionally published and their books become more recognized!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.

The third installment of the Kindred's Curse continues to really expand the world - moving from Lumnos into the other king(or queen)doms that we've heard about, we get a chance to see how other mortals and Descended (Cole's version of the fae) interact and to broaden our perspective of the fantasy world.

As a teenaged fan of Game of Thrones, I've always loved complex world building and so I really appreciated the focus on each kingdom's unique culture, challenges, politics and opportunities. In the third novel of the series, newly crowned Lumnos queen Diem is dealing with the aftermath of a violent attack on herself and the other sovereigns. By spending time both with the human Guardians who capture her and the Descended who rescue her, she starts to challenge her assumptions about the world and In particular, extended parts of the books are set in Umbros and Sophos, both of whom have really interesting political landscapes in their realms. If you are someone who really loves governance in fantasy, this is the book for you.

I would say that this book really should not be read as a standalone novel. So much of the relationship building between Diem and the other characters really builds on the first two novels, allowing the connections to evolve in a more measured and thoughtful way than really can be built in one book.

I devoured this book in two days and am looking forward to the fourth and final book in the series. This is definitely a great read for fans of Game of Thrones (if you loved the politics), Fourth Wing (if you loved the romance) or Serpent and the Wolf (if you loved both).

The world-building, magic, and lore of Emarion, the Kindred, and the Everflame are absolutely top tier! Even after some time away from this between books two and three, I was able to jump right back into this world because it is so unique, so cool, so fascinating. Coming back to our cast of characters felt like greeting old friends and falling right back into place with them!!

This was honestly three books in one, each part almost told a complete story in itself, so we were treated as readers to a glorified feast!! I absolutely adored getting to explore the different lands and magics of Emarion as Diem worked to make her escape, make her way home, and start making headway against our newly uncovered big bad. Each region is so unique in its people, its government, its physical space, so it was so cool getting to visit those places and see them through Diem's eyes! As she traveled, we got more time with some of our favorite friends, like Luther, Taran, and Alixe, some time with those we love to hate like Henri and Aemonn and Remis, and were introduced to some new faces, both friendly and otherwise.

This felt like a rollercoaster of a read- in all the ups and downs of the plot, and the ups and downs of me screaming at these characters to speak to each other and put together the very obvious clues before its too late while also loving all the characters' interpersonal relationship building and strategizing!

Thanks so much to Penn Cole and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This third book in the Kindred’s Curse series picks up after Diem’s coronation. She must navigate the politics of the courts in order to protect ALL of her people, mortals and descendants alike. With new threats looming, will Luther and Diem successfully unite the courts against a common enemy, or will Diem’s threat to the status quo blind the other rulers?

I have completely devoured this series! This was stressful and chaotic in the best possible way and I am desperate to get my hands on the last book. I loved witnessing Diem continue to grow into her power and find her voice and Luther is an absolute dream. This has been one of my absolute favorite series and cannot recommend it enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC!

Coming off a 5 star read of Glow of the Everflame, this one was wayyy too long. While a lot of things happened I felt like it was just too much back and forth in this book.

4.5⭐️ Happy publication day to @authorpenncole and thank you @atriabooks for the galley! 🥂

𝐭𝐥𝐝𝐫; 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭.

Look, this is the third book, so if you’re not already bought in, I’m probably not going to convince you with a book 3 review. I’ll just say this series is addictive and has taken me by surprise.

Although set in a fantasy world, there are parallels to present day politics. There’s a caste system with humans on the bottom and the descended (magic wielders) at the top. Half breeds are far more common than anyone wants to admit.

In this book, the rebel human resistance is making their grand stand. All of a sudden it gets hard to tell which side is “the good guys”. There will be evils of war on both sides. Fiction yet true to life.

In addition, I love the world building and each realm’s unique powers which we learn a lot more about in this book.

Where to start with Diem. She has learned to wield her powers...finally! Shadow Daddy Luther is in the wings, but these two still haven’t learned how to communicate. At 850 pages this book was lengthier than it needed to be, but I’ll forgive it. My fave of the series so far is Glow (book 2).

However, in book 3 we meet my new favorite morally grey character: Zalaric. He and Taran’s banter had me rolling with laughter. I could read a whole book of these two. I also love Sorae and want to learn more about the other gryverns.

I must know when book 4 is publishing. I’m hopeful it will be this year..!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This series has me by the throat. The third in the series, you need to read the two previous books before this one. I won't say much out of fear of spoilers, but so many twists and turns I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

This series (and this book) are so good. The cliff hanger, while cruel and unusual, has me so excited to get my hands on book 4. Its such a well thought-out plot line, with good genuine characters. I find myself thinking about the books even after I finish them.

I absolutely adore Everflame. This third installment was great. I do think the FMC is a little naive about war and sometimes that was annoying. However, the characters and their relationships are so amazing that it’s easy to overlook Diem’s naïveté.

ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕞𝕖 by Penn Cole
Trad Release Date: March 11
Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: Open Door, 🌶️ 🌶️

🔥 Luther 😮‍💨 The man that you are…

Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, this book cemented him in the hall of fame of book boyfriends. I will not be taking comments and no @authorpenncole I don’t care what you say about Henri. It’s a no for me.

This is a thick book but I devoured it in 3 days.

The journey Penn takes us through is amazing. I just can’t get enough of this world. We get to explore the different realms and see the politics at play.

I know people have heartache over Diem as a complicated FMC but I just love how empathetic and focused on doing what she perceives the right thing to do is. She may stumble but I love her even more for recognizing the mistakes she makes. I’ve enjoyed seeing her character growth.

@authorpenncole I beseech you, do not touch Taran 🥹 my heart can’t take it.

The plot twists make this a wild ride. There is a lot of stage setting and events that are preparing us for an epic finale and I can’t wait to see how this story ends.

This hits all aspects I love about romantasy, the banter, high stakes and epic world building. Definitely add this to your TBR!

Thank you to @authorpenncole and @atriabooks for this eARC!

🔥Blurb: After her coronation, Diem is straddling the line between both of her worlds. They are at war and she can only remain passive for so long. A new threat emerges that leaves her with more questions. Diem and her friends just want to make it back home safely but there is a threat at every corner and so many questions. Will Diem find what she’s after?

More formal review to come - will be anxiously awaiting the 4th book!! All these cliffhangers are killing me slowly!

Heat of the Everflame delivered everything I wanted in the third installment of this spellbinding series—heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping revelations, and a romance that burned brighter than ever. Diem’s journey was more intense than ever as she navigated the impossible choices between duty, love, and survival. The political intrigue had me on edge, and the unraveling of her lineage added layers of emotional depth that made every twist hit harder.
Luther and Diem’s dynamic was electric, filled with aching tension and unshakable loyalty. Their journey across the realms was immersive, and every battle, betrayal, and sacrifice felt monumental. The stakes were sky-high, and the author didn’t hold back, making the war between the Descended and the Guardians feel raw and unpredictable.
The writing was cinematic, the pacing relentless, and the world-building richer than ever. If this series has taught me anything, it’s that the author knows exactly how to shatter my heart and leave me begging for more.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (very descriptive open door scenes)

Quick notes:
*Third in a series
*Touch her and die
*Expanded world-building
*Found family
*Secrets revealed
*Cliffhanger ending

My thoughts:
This series just keeps getting better and better! I enjoyed books 1 and 2, but this took the action, world-building, and romance to another level. I didn't realize how long this book was when I started, but I honestly never felt like it was padded with filler or needed to be cut down. There were a few times in the second half when the plot slowed down a bit, but then the next chapter would ramp up the romance or action and keep me invested. From start to finish, the romance was HOT. They were together but also still in a bit of a slow burn situation that kept the tension going. And when they finally gave in to their desires fully, it was burning up the pages 🔥🔥🔥 In terms of the plot, I loved how we got to explore other realms in a way that never got confusing or repetitive (Rebecca Yarros, please take note). Everything made sense, but there was still enough mystery left to keep me guessing and on the edge of my seat. I also still liked Diem, although I understand why some don't love her choices. I'm very curious to see where this goes after the cliffhanger ending- I honestly can't predict how this will play out, and it's got me very excited!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really love this series and this world and these characters (most of the time - but your girl Diem does make me want to scream sometimes iykyk). There was so so much packed into this book, and while I loved where the story went, it was just too long - 1000+ pages for a book that isn’t the series finale is a lot for me. That cliffhanger though, I need book four asap!

Penn Cole delivers another pulse-pounding installment in the Everflame series with Heat of the Everflame, a book brimming with political intrigue, star-crossed romance, and shocking revelations. As war erupts, Diem is caught between two warring factions, forcing her to navigate treacherous alliances while uncovering the truth about her heritage. The stakes soar higher than ever as she and Luther embark on a dangerous quest that could determine the fate of the realms. With its breathtaking world-building, heart-wrenching twists, and a romance that burns just as fiercely as the battle for power, this third installment is an absolute must-read. Fans will devour every moment.

This book was absolute perfection. Somehow, this series just keeps getting better and better!

What I loved:
- The magic system and world-building are so immersive; I found myself completely lost in it.
- Diem and Luther’s relationship is everything. Luther’s unwavering dedication is next level, and their banter and flirting had me giggling and kicking my feet.
- This author does an amazing job with the slow burn. I've stayed completely engaged and invested throughout all three books.
- The side characters are all incredible, but Taran's humor was definitely one of the highlights for me!
- Diem’s character growth was so satisfying. I loved watching Diem grow and become more self-aware in this book. I enjoyed watching her come to terms with her powers and bloodline.
- The political intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat. Watching Diem navigate alliances and figure out who she can trust, while balancing the needs of both mortals and the Descended, was fascinating.

I’m completely invested in this world! But that ending… What just happened?! I’m still processing and am not sure how I’m supposed to wait until next year for book 4. I can't wait to see where this journey goes next!

“I was a creature of the embers, fire incarnate, a living flame. If this was what it meant to burn, I wanted to burn forever.”

Wow! Still processing that ending! This book was a wild ride from the start, and left no room for breaks. The twists and turns, some predictable and some not, kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. And the tension! My goodness, Penn Cole knows how to write it!

Some of my favorite parts:
- Taran and Zalarik’s banter…so funny!
- The array of different realms you got to experience.
- Luther’s devotion ❤️
- Diem coming into herself & the role she’s been fated to play.
- The tension
…and the edge of emotion that Penn Cole can hold you over the fate of your beloved characters…for chapters.

“You will remake this world. You will be the voice they never had and the sword they were never allowed to wield.”

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Penn Cole for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'm not sure how I felt about this. In a lot of ways, I have more negative things to say than good. But, I still find myself swooning over the romance at times, and am really enjoying the world and magic system. Because of that, this book gets pretty high ratings. But, that being said, there was still a lot of things in here that I was not enjoying.

Firstly, why was this 1000 pages. There was absolutely no need for that and a lot of the middle of the book can be cut. I think mindless traveling from one place to another scenes are so boring and a lot of the ones that occurred here did not add enough to the story to really make sense being here. I also felt as though we were having the same conversation over and over of mortals vs. the Descended. We get it.

Secondly, Diem. Now, I seen a ton of Diem hate, and lots of people finding her to be the most annoying FMC they've ever read. I don't think she is that bad, but I am getting annoyed with that fact that she is getting crown after crown after crown. Like it's taking the choose one trope a bit too far. And it was also very predictable, when I assume it was supposed to be a big twist. Also, for a character that claims to not want the crown, she sure throws around her many titles a lot to get what she wants.

Third, Luther.. I used to LOVE Luther, he was so interesting and the slow burn and their romance was fantastic in the first two books. Now that it is not really a slow burn and more of a miscommunication trope, I definitely disliked it a lot more. There were still a few lines that got me good here and made me kick my feet a little. But overall, Luther lost so much interest here and was just a shadow to Diem. Like I love a guy to fall at a women's feet, but Luther stand up. I also personally have issues when main characters, especially romantic interests get hurt in a book. It is so hard for me to believe that something could actually happen to them. I found myself with zero emotions when Luther "died" because of course. He didn't. If there is going to be a death, or a near death, make it believable. Especially when a different character almost died of the exact same thing and then didn't. Loses my trust in the author a lot.

The ending had a nice cliffhanger...but again I have lost faith in the author so I know everything will be okay in the end. Diem will be fine.

That sounds like a lot of hate....but I did overall enjoy this book. I just find it easier to harp on the things I didn't like. Regardless, I will still read the next one, obviously.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This series just keeps getting better!!
Penn Cole does it yet again in the third segment of the Kindred Curse series!

Book three kicks off right where book two left off! As the war between mortals and the descended is here, and Diem feels conflicted now more than ever. After years of hating the descended she’s learned there’s so much more than meets the eye and not all descended are as ruthless and vile as she once thought. Likely not all mortals, specifically those in the rebel group the Guardians, aren’t as virtuous as she once thought. As she continues to fight for what she believes in after a disastrous coronation, Diem now more than ever needs to find allies as she grows into more power than she thought possible.



Thoughts and Spoilers:

This series is stunning! The most deliciously painful slowburn of all time, it is truly a lesson in yearning which so different than a lot of popular fantasy/romantasy circling around right now. I really love how much Diem continues to grow as a character not only alone, but into her relationships as well. For someone who is so fiercely stubborn and independent to learn to trust people and rely on others? She doesn’t always put her trust into the right individuals but she continues to learn. The growth of the side characters and their backstory was fun too

Luther Corbois oh the man that you are. The way this man is so fiercely dedicated?! Their relationship by the end was truly delicious. Especially after all those chapters where they’re separated, and then reunited but with some drama imbedded too. Their sweet moments were all that more precious because of how hard they had to fight to get back to each other!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Penn Cole has done it again! I've rated every book thus far in this saga 5 stars. It is rare that books in a series just keep getting better but this is the exception. Especially when this book was the longest one yet. Bravo. That ending though??? I'm not ok!! How in the world am I supposed to wait until 2026 for the 4th?! I cried many times while reading this and it was definitely a roller coaster of emotions. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves epic fantasy romance with high stakes and an incredible cast of characters. The character development is unreal. Huge thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!