I had to DNF. I think I am too stupid to keep up with all the characters, kingdoms names, and everything else. I am giving 3 stars because the story was interesting and the writing was well done. I just need a higher iq score for this one.

"Some fires burn to destroy. Others burn to forge."

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡: Herbal tea
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥:🌶️🌶️ (a satisfying balance. enough heat to keep things interesting without overshadowing the story)
𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧: Winter, when you want to curl up and get lost in a world of magic and grit.
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝: 100% yes—especially if you love fantasy with bite.


𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•Strong, complex heroines who don’t wait to be saved
•Slow-burn romance with tension you can taste
•Rich world-building with a dark, magical edge
•Stories where power has a price and stakes feel real

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This book blew me away. From the first page, Amy de la Force crafts a world that feels alive brutal yet beautiful, dangerous yet intoxicating. The magic system is clever, the lore is layered, and the characters are the kind you root for because they’re messy, flawed, and real.

The romance is a delicious slow burn, sparking between moments of tenderness and intensity without ever feeling forced. And the plot? It does not let up. Every chapter pulled me deeper, and by the end, I was simultaneously satisfied and desperate for more.

It’s dark, it’s empowering, and it has just the right amount of heat to complement the story rather than overshadow it. This one is going straight onto my favorites shelf.

This was such a good YA fantasy book. I really enjoyed the journey Cahra goes through when she accidentally kicks off the start of an age old prophecy in the kingdoms. It was action packed and had a fun magical side to it as well. I only wish there was more world building and character development. It felt like the story took place in a matter of a week (maybe it did?). Either way, I wanted more and hopefully we will get that in the next book. I highly recommend checking this out, it was a hard one to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, DK and the author for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

I was ready to give this book 5 stars-until I hit the 60% mark.
Up to that point, I was hooked. The pacing was great, the tension kept me turning pages, and I couldn't put it down. But then the FMC started making choices that felt frustrating and out of character, and the plot fell flat.
The last 40% left me more annoyed than engaged, my baby Hael carried the final chapters.
I still think this book lays a solid foundation for the series. I never judge a series by the first book alone, and l'm genuinely curious to see how it evolves.
Definitely planning to read the next one.

I really love the spark behind A Kiss of Hammer and Flame. The premise being Cahra accidentally forging a sigil that awakens an immortal, feels fresh and full of magic, and the world building shows a lot of creativity. But some readers, especially early on, will feel a bit overwhelmed. The first chapter or two pack in a ton of names, lore, and background with little context. It might help to ease people in more gently so they don’t get lost before the story takes off. The pacing picks up nicely later, and the heroism and heat work well, but that early info dump can make things feel stall worthy.

Cahra is a badass blacksmith with agency, which is great, but some of her character choices don’t always feel consistent. A few reviewers pointed out how quickly her feelings shift between Terryl and Hael, and for some it dropped the emotional impact a bit. I’d suggest smoothing out her arc and giving the relationships more build up so readers can invest emotionally. The romance is a bit instalust in places, and while Hael’s connection through dreams is cool, it needs more scaffolding in the narrative. I tend to like a slow burn, not getting together too quick because it takes the fun out of watching them fall in love.

Overall the tone is fun and adventurous, but the writing could use a light polish some sentences lean basic or repetitive, and polishing dialogue or internal beats would help the voice shine more. It’s a debut with impressive potential, and with some trimming of the early chapters, a bit more emotional payoff in the character arcs, and maybe clearer signals about the love triangle dynamics, this book could really land with both fantasy and romantasy fans.

I dnf this. I had really high hopes but, this just fell so flat for me. There's no emotion in it. I can't connect with anyone, the MFC is kind of a bore and I just couldn't get past the fact that there was no emotion. The details to places and people were great but that was it. There was no depth to anyone, and I dont really know what else to say. Maybe someday I'll come back and try again because I quit like 20% of the way in. I feel awful for this review but I was asked to give and honest response for the ARC.

I immedietly preordered book 2 at the 30% mark because I was so in love with the book.

A love a badass MFC and a properly done love triangle.

⭐⭐⭐

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by Amy de la Force
A bold romantasy debut with a blacksmith heroine, forbidden prophecies, and two swoon-worthy love interests—clearly a strong start, but it stumbled at times under its own ambition.

Cahra, a gifted blacksmith’s apprentice, forges a sword marked by a mysterious symbol—and ends up awakening Hael, a long-dormant immortal with ties to an ancient prophecy. Caught in the crosshairs of political intrigue and magical forces she doesn’t fully understand, Cahra is forced to flee with Terryl, the nobleman who commissioned the sword. As her connection to Hael deepens—manifesting in vivid dreams and supernatural bonds—Cahra must confront dangerous truths about her destiny, her powers, and who she can truly trust.


What Worked

Cahra’s role as a blacksmith is a standout. She’s not just wielding magic—she's literally forging it. A refreshing take on the fantasy heroine archetype.

The magical mechanics involving prophecy, ancient kings, and enchanted artifacts added rich depth to the worldbuilding.

Romantic tension sizzled nicely with both Hael and Terryl—it's the kind of love-triangle that doesn’t feel tacked on, but deeply entwined in the plot.

Action-driven opening with fast pacing and immersive stakes pulled me in quickly.


What Held It Back

Middle-section drag. The pacing faltered with exposition-heavy chapters that sometimes felt more like setup than payoff.

Emotional shift in romance near the climax felt a bit too abrupt. The chemistry was there, but the suddenness lessened the emotional payoff.

Underdeveloped secondary characters. With a complex world involving multiple kingdoms, I wanted more dimension and presence from supporting voices.

3 stars — A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is a promising romantasy debut, especially for readers who love fierce, skilled heroines and emotionally charged, slow-burn romance. Cahra shines brightest when she's working with her hands or navigating the dreams that tether her to Hael. The themes of fate, power, and choosing one’s path over prophecy are compelling, even if they occasionally get tangled in overly dense worldbuilding.

It’s a read that flirts with greatness—one hammer strike away from extraordinary.