This book was teetering between a 4 and a 5 for me. Ultimately, I have to give it a 4. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and I was excited to pick it back up and even read through my lunch breaks to finish the story. I’m almost sad that this is an ARC because now I have to wait to find out what happens next!
I enjoyed the unique plot elements: the key, the Scion, and the Weapon. While there were common romantasy tropes baked into the story, the way that they were presented kept me flipping through the pages to see what happened next. The prophecy, and the journey to uncover its mysteries, had me hooked throughout the entirety of the story. The relationship between the Scion and the Weapon is what sealed the deal, and is what ultimately has me desperate to read more of the story.
The timespan of the story is pretty short, with everything happening in quick succession. While it helped keep me engaged and on the edge of my seat, it sometimes took me out of the story. The quickness that Cahra’s, the FMC’s, romantic interests and trusted friends shifted is what caught me off guard sometimes. With that being said, this takes place in a completely different time frame from modern society, and it reminded me of the romances of Pride and Prejudice in a sense that romances happened with stolen glances and brushes of the hand.
I also wanted more out of some of the side characters. While the world was well-rounded and set up beautifully, I wish that characters like Lumsden were more developed. I wanted to feel as attached to him as Cahra did, but I found myself a bit more detached. I also felt that the main villain(s) of this story could have used a little bit more of a backstory. Maybe that will come with the revelations of the second and third books in the series, but I wanted more. I think this book could have easily added another 50 pages to round out some of the characters and their backstories.
Cahra was a fun character to read. She felt relatable, and her heart always seemed to be in the right place. While Cahra was someone I found myself rooting for, I was even more excited for Hael. His story is such a unique concept, and his story of how he came to be was wild. I can not wait to see what happens with his story line and how his relationship with the Scion develops. I can see him being an incredibly complex and well-rounded character, and I am desperate to know where he goes on his journey.
I had no idea what to expect walking into this, as this was my first ARC read, and I couldn’t be happier that this story is where my ARC journey began. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy de la Force for including me in this early read.

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is a spellbinding romantasy that sweeps you into a world of immortal power, shattered empires, and the fiery heart of a blacksmith destined to change the course of history. Amy de la Force has crafted a story that is equal parts thrilling, romantic, and richly imaginative, with a plot that moves at a breakneck pace and a world that feels alive with magic and danger.

The world-building is exceptional, with vivid descriptions of the lost capital of Hael’stromia, the darkly magical Wilds, and the war-torn kingdoms vying for power. The political intrigue and the clash of tyrant kings add layers of tension, making every twist and turn of the plot feel urgent and unpredictable. The themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the power of choice are explored with nuance, giving the story a satisfying emotional weight.

Fans of romantasy filled with danger, destiny, and slow-burning magic will absolutely devour A Kiss of Hammer and Flame. It’s a breathtaking adventure that I couldn’t put down, and I can’t wait to see what Amy de la Force writes next. Highly recommended!

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame was an absolute thrill to read — I couldn’t put it down! The blend of romance, adventure, and dark magic completely swept me away. Cahra’s journey from blacksmith to reluctant hero was captivating, and the world of warring kingdoms and ancient prophecies felt rich with possibility. The dark, enchanted atmosphere was one of my favourite aspects—I only wished for more vivid worldbuilding to fully lose myself in the setting.

With its fast pace, action-packed plot, and unique world, this book had me hooked from start to finish. I’d love to see more stories set in this universe, and I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author. Fans of romantasy filled with danger, destiny, and slow-burning magic will devour this adventure.

This book is an intriguing blend of romance, adventure, and fantasy and was enjoyable. I would say a solid read for fans of magical fantasy with romance, but it may leave those who looks for a deeper or more original story lacking in a way. The end and shift in the romance was a bit off on me, but still worth a read.

im not sure i was a fan of this book? I mean the Fmc was stunning and such a fun character to this book with her character growth and how determined she was to do what she thought was best. but the romance was definitely confusing for me. I feel throughout the whole 75 percent of the book it is set up as if she is meant to be with this one love interest but them towards the end she chooses someone completely different that we didnt see any chemistry or much interaction in regards to romance with. it was an alright book but i wish we got a bit more of an explanation for the sudden switch up.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Cahra was such an interesting character in this book, i really liked how strong and focused she was on working for what she had and her journey to improve her life. She is incredibly resilient and a force to be reckon with when saving the world. The love interest Terryl was sooooooo good!! The romance was definitely the best part of this book and it made me so giggly the way they interacted with each other. definitely felt a bit like insta love but i think after a while i got over that part. but also the switch up at the end?????? idk man that was kinda a shocker because i didnt see any chemistry between them at all in this book.

Im excited to see what the author comes up with next!
Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Cahra is such an interesting FMC in this YA fantasy that she is compelling to watch. Her journey throughout the book from blacksmith to going on this adventure is a very interesting plot to follow along with her interactions with the other characters and MMC.

Although the plot of the story was good, I did find that the romance just seemed to kick off from nowhere. One minute there was nothing and then it was instant love before any of the emotional build up I enjoy.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and if you’re looking for a strong female lead with character development and don’t mind instant love in a YA novel, this is definitely worth a read!

Ooooh, I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the world (even though I found myself wishing there was more worldbuilding) and found the FMC, Cahra, likeable. The romance between Cahra and Terryl felt insta-lusty which I'm not a big fan of, but honestly didn't mind in this instance. It DID throw me for a loop, however, when she decided she had feelings for another character at the end. I needed more between the characters for that "relationship" to be believable (she literally had more chemistry with Raiden!) especially when it was being set up for her to end up with Terryl for the majority of the book. Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by Amy de la Force is so good I couldn't put it down for a second. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't stop reading it. I read it in 16 hours! It's so good.

Cahra was such a tough and compelling female protagonist, and her journey from having nothing—growing up poor and alone on the streets—to becoming a blacksmith’s apprentice was already an epic arc. But then she takes it even further, setting off on a quest to help save the world and rescue her love interest, Thierre. That alone made this book an exciting and adventurous read!

While the journey was fun, the romance took center stage more than I expected. I appreciated that the characters didn’t fall into an instant-love trope, but at the same time, their romance didn’t have much build-up—it felt like they were in love before they even shared a single kiss, which was a bit disappointing. A little more development in their relationship would have made the emotional moments even stronger.

That said, if you're looking for a young adult fantasy with a strong heroine, an engaging adventure, and a heartfelt love story, A Kiss of Hammer and Steel is definitely worth a read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Although I could have used a bit more world building, I was enjoying the pacing and the story progression as Cahra learned more on her journey. I liked seeing the blossoming relationship between her and Terryl.

Putting the next bit under spoilers.
<spoiler>The end is where it fell apart for me. The story had been setting up the beginnings of a relationship between Cahra and Terryl but (at least to me) it felt very sudden that Cahra had feelings for Hael? Like actual feelings and not just thinking he was attractive.</spoiler>

I devoured this book. Easy to follow and loved the FMC Cahra. Really enjoyed the story and can't wait to continue this series. Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for ARC.