Beautifully written. Completely engaging. This is a perfect book for those who love YA Fantasy with just a bit of romance and a sprinkle of magic, intrigue, politics and plot twists. In fact the plot twists are numerous and unexpected but add to the depth and richness of this book.

This is one of those books that you pick up thinking you will simply read it, but then find that you are so drawn into the story that putting it down is difficult. And, this is certainly one of those books that will find you still at 1am reading away just because a plot twist came and you have to see it through.

Absolutely a chokehold of a book!

Loved this one! This book started off fast-paced and slowed down a bit in the middle, but I was so invested that it didn't phase me! Cahra is fun and unique MFC, she isn't tiny or delicate or a badass that looks tiny and delicate, she capable and tough, she works as a blacksmith and it's not brushed to this side! There is a bit of a love triangle but it definitely felt secondary to the plot, Terryl is a prince and spy and Cahra is forced to go on the run with him, they were cute together but definitely felt more like friends to me. Hael is our big baddy who can speak to Cahra in her subconsciousness, he was so tender with her, I love him and can't wait to see more in the next books! Very intriguing lore and while the world-building can definitely be explored more, it was a great start to the series!

I think this book series has potential to be great. I like the plot and storyline. Cahra is a strong, determined FMC and I love to see if. She's not annoying which I like.

I felt it was a bit rushed, and I was a tad confused in some parts.

The name are so hard to pronounce. Unfortunately, I had to DNF at about 78%.

This was a very charming adventure!

I will always be down with female blacksmith representation (A Knight's Tale the movie made me crave this and there still aren't enough female blacksmiths in fiction.) It had interesting pacing sometimes it was very fast and others it was a bit too slow. It's kind of funny it had elements that reminded me of Soul Eater and a PG-13 Swordheart and Quicksilver. A lot of fun solid 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Amy de la Force for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An absolutely spellbinding romantasy debut! I was hooked as soon as I started reading -- Cahra is a fantastic FMC who is strong, capable, independent and flawed enough to make her relatable but also heroic enough to keep the reader rooting for her until the very last page. The worldbuilding is gorgeous and meticulous, and I loved the subtle homages to the Hades and Persephone myth! I can't wait for Book Two and to see more from this author!

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is a captivating fusion of fantasy, romance, and vivid mythology that had me hooked well past bedtime. The world-building is deeply immersive, featuring a distinctive magic system and a setting that balances grandeur with intimacy. While this book wasn't my favorite, I still thought it was an entertaining YA fantasy book that other readers would love.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.

2.5 ⭐️

I didn't enjoy this book, unfortunately. The premise was interesting, but I didn't feel any connection towards the story nor the characters.
I think the plot was lacklustre, jumping in different directions too quickly making the story scattered and confusing.
The FMC was too generic and the romance was forced, to the point that it didn't make sense...

The only thing that interested me was the story of the Hael’stromia and the prophecy, but still it was confusing in few parts.

Over all, I did enjoy this book! The writing style took a minute to get used to but once I did the words flowed effortlessly. I liked the characters and enjoyed their journey together. The reason I rate this book 3 1/2 stars (Rounding up!) is because although the adventure started fairly early on and interactions between characters did as well, I still sort of felt like it was all going so slowly.. I honestly think it was just a me thing! The book was still great!

I hate that I read this as an arc, only because now I’m stuck in the state of desperate yearning for book 2. This book completely swept me away and left me absolutely obsessed and craving more.

Although it’s pitched as a romantasy, and yes, there’s romance (slow burn lovers, this is for you), the focus in this book is very much on the plot and I loved that. The pacing was tight, the world building rich and I found myself flipping the pages at 2AM because I just had to know what happened next.

It’s loosely a Hades x Persephone retelling - not a direct adaption but it pulls in just enough mythological flavour to keep things familiar while building something new. And honestly? It works so well.

Cahra is the kind of heroine I want more in a fantasy - strong, capable. She’s not waiting to be saved. She isn’t portrayed as weak or frail. And then there’s Hael. Shadow daddy. Mysterious. Powerful. Dream-hauntingly good. It’s a yes from me.

Terryl had me charmed at the start - he’s your classic noble sweetheart. But by the end? My heart fully belonged to Hael.

If you love slow burn, found destiny and high stakes fantasy, a kiss of hammer and flame is absolutely worth your time.

I loved how Cahra was physically strong and buff from the beginning. It was kind of refreshing to have a FMC who wasn’t dainty and perceived as helpless. However, I did find myself annoyed by her most of the time. I found her to be somewhat of a hypocrite and her actions were repetitive. I found that many elements/events in this book were either forced or predictable. The plot was unique and I liked the concept but some parts felt like they were added solely for shock value. While this book wasn't necessarily the one for me, I do feel that many people would enjoy it.

This book has the potential for people to absolutely love and be obsessed with, and many people will. Unfortunately the book just didn’t grip me. It has all the ingredients needed to make a great romantasy book and a lot of people will eat the series up but it just wasn’t one that I could completely immerse myself into. I just felt that I couldn’t quite picture some of the world building. It is a good book, and has a very intriguing storyline - but it didn’t have that final spark to make it amazing for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to this book.

I struggled a bit to connect with this story but may need to return to it another time! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Overall rating: 2.5

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame had a lot of potential. Female blacksmith, prophecies, immortals, and romantasy? Sign me up. Unfortunately, this novel missed the mark for me.

The writing style was sadly not to my liking. It felt like a lot of telling versus showing, which took me out of the plot. It had a lot of potential! The language used just wasn’t especially exciting or intriguing during points of climax. Even though the pacing was fast at points, the novel still dragged a little for me.

To me, the characters lacked depth, which prevented me from getting invested. I couldn’t connect to Cahra and Terryl, much less their romance. To me, their romance felt forced and disingenuous, and unfortunately neither character came to life for me. The supporting characters also fell more into support and less into their own characters. To me, they lacked individuality and depth, and were used more as plot progressors. I didn’t learn much about them, and would’ve loved to see them implemented more!

I will say, however, that I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. I liked the idea of the prophecy and implications of Cahra setting it off.

Overall, even though this novel wasn’t my cup of tea, it will definitely be engaging for those interested in YA fantasy! It has a lot of good aspects both plot and setting wise!

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame introduced an intriguing concept that initially piqued my interest. The premise hinted at a story filled with depth and potential, but unfortunately, the execution fell short.

The writing style was one of the main drawbacks. It often felt repetitive, which detracted from the narrative's overall impact. Certain phrases were overused, making the prose feel somewhat monotonous and lacking in the creativity needed to sustain engagement.

The characters, while central to the plot, were difficult to connect with on an emotional level. Their development felt uneven, and their motivations were not always clear or compelling. As a result, it was hard to invest in their journeys or feel truly immersed in their experiences.

Pacing was another issue that hampered the story. There were moments where the plot dragged, bogged down by scenes that felt unnecessary or overly drawn-out. Conversely, other parts of the story progressed too rapidly, leaving little opportunity to explore key events in greater depth or build tension effectively.

That being said, it’s worth noting that the core idea behind the book had promise. There were glimpses of interesting concepts and moments where the story showed flashes of potential, but these were fleeting and not enough to carry the narrative.

In summary, while A Kiss of Hammer and Flame had a promising foundation, it ultimately struggled with repetitive writing, unrelatable characters, and uneven pacing. It’s a book that may resonate with some readers, but it left me wishing for more polish and depth.

*A Kiss of Hammer and Flame* delivers a sizzling blend of fantasy, romance, and richly imagined mythology that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The world-building is immersive, with a unique magical system and a setting that feels both epic and intimate.

The chemistry between the protagonists crackles right from the start—tense, passionate, and beautifully complicated. I appreciated how their relationship was given space to grow, with just the right mix of tension, tenderness, and heat. The heroine, in particular, is a standout—strong, flawed, and refreshingly self-aware.

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that a few pacing issues slowed the momentum in the middle, but the emotional payoff and thrilling climax more than made up for it.

Overall, *A Kiss of Hammer and Flame* is a gripping romantic fantasy that will appeal to fans of slow-burn tension, strong characters, and high-stakes magic. I’ll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next!

This was an interesting YA story in a unique fantasy world! The world building was interesting and original.

The main character Cahra has her life upended after becoming central to a prophecy. She is reluctant to take on power but her journey the politics and history of this world are very intriguing.

For me, the characters, their personalities, and relationships felt a bit underdeveloped. This may pick up more in future books as we learn more about them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book follows Cahra, a young blacksmith who unintentionally forges a sword that triggers the start of events foretold in a centuries old prophecy.

I was initially captured by the premise and the protagonist, a strong and independent woman with a tortured past. I thought it had potential but sadly in the end I did not enjoy this book. I found that the relationships between the characters were unbelievable and the plot was one dimensional. I was often bored by the story and found the romance to be contrived.

I think there are some good bones in this book, but more development is needed to flesh out the ideas and create depth.

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by Amy de la Force is an intriguing fantasy with a promising premise, but ultimately falls short in some areas. The world-building is vivid, and the magical elements are well-crafted, offering an interesting setting for the story. However, the pacing feels uneven, with parts dragging on too long while others rush through crucial moments. The characters are likable but lack depth, making it difficult to fully invest in their journey. While the romance adds some charm, it doesn’t feel as developed or compelling as the plot itself. Overall, this is an enjoyable read for fans of light fantasy, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. 3 stars.

This story takes you on a epic quest with war, hints of romance and great world building. It's engaging and the characters are well written. The ending felt satisfying with an opening for more

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame had a lot of things I usually love—dark magic, gothic vibes, a strong female lead, and the promise of romance—but overall, it didn’t fully click for me.

The beginning drew me in, but as the story went on, I found myself losing focus. As a mood reader, this felt like one of those books that demands your full attention, and I just wasn’t in the headspace for that kind of read. The pacing felt uneven in parts—some sections moved quickly, while others dragged or felt dense with information.

I was hoping for more romantasy elements, especially since there’s a hint of a love triangle, but the romantic tension didn’t quite land. I found myself wanting more chemistry and more buildup between characters. There was definitely potential, especially with the dark, mysterious characters and the “touch her and die” energy, but it never quite hit the mark.

Still, the worldbuilding was solid, and I appreciated the darker, gothic tone. Cahra’s journey from reluctant hero to stepping into her role had some great moments, and I’m curious to see how things develop in the next book.

Not a favorite for me, but I can see the appeal—and I’m still interested enough to see where the story goes.